Each GM EV now has entry to 17,800 Tesla Superchargers for quick charging, with the lone exception being the Nineteen Nineties EV1. Which means the Chevy Bolt—with its modest 55-kW most charging charge—can now faucet into Tesla’s community of 250-kW chargers. There’s only one hurdle some house owners must overcome.
(Correction 9/18 10:41 A.M. EST: This story initially stated that every one Bolts would require the replace, based mostly 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 mirror this. We remorse the error.)
“Bolts can have entry however [some] would require an replace on the supplier,” GM know-how spokesperson Sanaz Marbley wrote to InsideEVs. “These prospects will get an e 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 problem. Nonetheless, GM encourages all Bolt house owners to verify with their supplier to see if they will want the replace.
Common Motors
Marbley says sellers can begin scheduling appointments instantly. Provided that it might take a bit to your adapter to come back—particulars on find out how to order right here—the software program replace possible gained’t be what slows you down. Nonetheless, it’s a hurdle Hummer, Lyriq, Silverado, Blazer, Equinox and Sierra EV house owners gained’t must cope with.
It in all probability shouldn’t be too shocking to be taught 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 obtained few OTA patches, and it’s no shock to be taught {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 as if a couple of mannequin years have some compatibility issues that should 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. Which means Bolt house owners must park in a single stall and use the charging deal with of the adjoining Supercharger. It’s inelegant, however don’t fear. Tesla has stated that it’s okay for non-Tesla EVs to double park if it’s needed to make use of the charger.
The mix of double parking and gradual charging speeds will possible make the Bolt an unwelcome sight at a Supercharger. After 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 occasions we tried it, it took over 2 hours.
However that doesn’t make fast-charging the Bolt ineffective. Chevy says that house owners can get 100 miles of vary in half-hour of charging, which implies you possibly can journey about two hours between half-hour stops. It’s not supreme—it’s 2016 tech—however folks can and do street journey this stuff. The ability of the charger isn’t a problem, so the provision of 250-kW Superchargers gained’t change a lot when it comes to cease time. With 17,800 extra dependable stalls to entry along with the present community, it’ll be simpler for Bolt house owners to plan routes that contain shorter, extra frequent stops.
However if in case you have a 2019 or 2020 Bolt, ensure that your first cease is the dealership. Sellers are accepting appointments beginning right now, and when you get the software program replace and the adapter, try to be good to go.
