Each GM EV now has entry to 17,800 Tesla Superchargers for quick charging, with the lone exception being the Nineties EV1. Meaning the Chevy Bolt—with its modest 55-kW most charging price—can now faucet into Tesla’s community of 250-kW chargers. There’s only one hurdle some homeowners should overcome.
(Correction 9/18 10:41 A.M. EST: This story initially mentioned that every one Bolts would require the replace, primarily based on our dialog with GM. On 9/18, an proprietor knowledgeable us and GM confirmed that solely sure 2019 and 2020 Bolts would require the replace. The textual content has been up to date to replicate this. We remorse the error.)
“Bolts could have entry however [some] would require an replace on the supplier,” GM know-how spokesperson Sanaz Marbley wrote to InsideEVs. “These clients will get an electronic mail about it on launch day telling them extra.”
The replace is required for choose 2019 and 2020 Bolts. Bolts from different years ought to work with out situation. Nonetheless, GM encourages all Bolt homeowners to verify with their supplier to see if they will want the replace.
Common Motors
Marbley says sellers can begin scheduling appointments instantly. On condition that it could take a bit in your adapter to return—particulars on find out how to order right here—the software program replace probably received’t be what slows you down. Nonetheless, it’s a hurdle Hummer, Lyriq, Silverado, Blazer, Equinox and Sierra EV homeowners received’t must cope with.
It most likely shouldn’t be too shocking to study that there’s an additional step for the Bolt. The Bolt entered manufacturing in 2016, and as GM’s first long-range EV, it used an older electrical and software program structure that predates the corporate’s new Ultium platform. Whereas Ultium autos have broad over-the-air (OTA) replace capabilities, the Bolt has acquired few OTA patches, and it’s no shock to study {that a} extra substantial software program improve requires a supplier go to. It is excellent news that the early Bolts will not want one, however with an over-five-year run it looks like a couple of mannequin years have some compatibility issues that must be addressed with the replace.
The Bolt was additionally designed with the cost door on the entrance left of the car. That’s a typical location for charging ports. Nonetheless, Tesla’s Supercharger community was infuriatingly constructed out with quick cables and stalls designed purely for autos with their cost doorways on the driver-side rear of the car. Meaning Bolt homeowners should park in a single stall and use the charging deal with of the adjoining Supercharger. It’s inelegant, however don’t fear. Tesla has mentioned that it’s okay for non-Tesla EVs to double park if it’s needed to make use of the charger.
The mixture of double parking and gradual charging speeds will probably make the Bolt an unwelcome sight at a Supercharger. Once we did a charging check in 2022, a Bolt EV took 73 minutes to cost from 10-80%. That’s about twice so long as it takes a Mannequin 3 to do the identical, and the Bolt will take twice as many stalls. We don’t advocate charging from 0-100% in any EV, however that’s very true within the Bolt. The final two instances we tried it, it took over 2 hours.
However that doesn’t make fast-charging the Bolt ineffective. Chevy says that homeowners can get 100 miles of vary in half-hour of charging, which suggests you possibly can journey about two hours between half-hour stops. It’s not supreme—it’s 2016 tech—however folks can and do highway journey these items. The facility of the charger isn’t a problem, so the supply of 250-kW Superchargers received’t change a lot by way of cease time. With 17,800 extra dependable stalls to entry along with the prevailing community, it’ll be simpler for Bolt homeowners to plan routes that contain shorter, extra frequent stops.
However when you have a 2019 or 2020 Bolt, be sure your first cease is the dealership. Sellers are accepting appointments beginning in the present day, and when you get the software program replace and the adapter, you need to be good to go.
