Ever wonder if a suitable charging station exists for your Chevy Volt?
Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that helps owners feel comfortable and practical with two-pronged electric mobility and a gasoline backup option. These options relax EV newbies, especially those who want to feel what an electric vehicle is like before switching to fully electric cars. Yet, they still confront the challenges of getting a suitable charging station for their Chevy Volt. This post helps you locate quality EV charging station manufacturers as well as the critical considerations you should examine before buying a charging station.
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Contact ElectrlyI. Chevy Volt Charging Station
II. What Chevy Volt Drivers Need to Know about EV Charging
With over 130,000 units sold since its inception in 2010, the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has been one of the most successful models of the Chevy fleet. Having started with a 43-mile range battery in its first- and second-generation models, it has quickly innovated new ways of increasing the battery capacity to a 53-mile range in its present third-generation models. The battery capacities of the early and the latest models of Chevy Volt PHEV are sufficient as most EV owners require about a 30-miles range daily. It’s no wonder it is presently the best-selling PHEV in the US.
III. Chevy Volt EV Charging & Range
Since its launch and until its latest upgrade in 2019, the Chevy Volt has continuously undergone various innovative improvements to make it more effective and enjoyable for its users. The most significant improvement is the battery upgrade which was previously a 16kWh battery but has now increased to 18.4kWh. The new battery upgrade makes it possible to achieve a range of 50 miles when running solely on the battery compared to the old battery capacity, which only gives a 43-mile range when the Chevy Volt is strictly running on batteries. However, longer ranges are possible by switching to gasoline, eliminating the challenge of being stranded on the highway. But in reality, PHEVs are primarily for automobile owners who want to test the waters before deciding to switch to a full electric vehicle (EV).
IV. Chevy Volt Connector Types and Charging Rate
The models of the Chevy Volt have improved for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations regarding the battery’s capacities and the charging rate. The first generation of Chevy Volts (2011 – 2015) had a 16kWh battery that charged at the rate of 3.3kWh. However, the latest third-generation models have the same battery capacity of 18.4kWh as the second generation. The only difference is the charging rate which is 3.6kW for the 2nd generation and 7.2kW for the 3rd generation.
V. Chevy Volt EV Charging Times
Charging is fundamental for all EVs and PHEVs, as you cannot hit the road without charging your EV. But the thing is, the time you spend charging is mainly dependent on the charging station employed, among other issues. Using a level 1 charger can make you spend up to 12 hours charging your Chevy Volt with a 120V socket. On the other hand, you can fully charge your PHEV in less than 3 hours using a 240V level 2 charger. However, because Volt has seen various improvements in battery capacities over the years, its charging time has varied based on the onboard charging capacities that have been installed. For instance, the time it takes a level 2 charger to charge a 3.6kW Chevy Volt is about 4.5 hours, while it takes about 2.3 hours to charge a Chevy Volt with a 7.2kW charging rate.
Related Article: EV Charging Time: How Long will it Take to Charge My Car?
Related Article: DC Fast Charging
VI. Level 3 DC Fast Charging
The Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with no capacity for a DC level 2 fast charger. DC fast chargers are usually found in the public charging station and are reserved for fully electric cars. Hence, if you must charge your Chevy Volt with the fastest charger possible, your best bet will be a level 2 charger.
VII. Which Type of Charging Speed is Perfect for you?
Charging speeds are different for the various charging stations available today but choosing one that meets your desired speed and functionality is the challenge. To arrive at the right speed, you may need to consider the different charging stations with your driving patterns, budget, and battery capacity.
The level 1 charger, the slowest, is often the least favored by most EV owners. Yet, it may be the charger with perfect speed for you if you have a low-capacity battery and don’t travel long distances, which means good overnight charging can be sufficient for you. Also, since it is the cheapest of all the chargers, it might be your best bet if you’re tight on budget.
For level 2 chargers with faster-charging speeds than the level 1 charger, EV owners mostly prefer this as it lets them add a significant charge to their batteries in less time. However, a level 2 charging speed will only be perfect for you if you travel medium distances around town and have a high-capacity battery. But then you’ll have to contend with the price if you are on a tight budget as the cost is significantly higher than a level 1 charger.
Unfortunately, the Chevy Volt is incapable of DC fast charging and won’t be a suitable charging speed option.
VIII. Chevy Volt EV Charging Cost
Some factors should be considered to estimate the cost of charging the Nissan Leaf EV. These factors include the charger used for the charging, the battery capacity, and the billing method used by the charging station operator.
It is common knowledge that fast EV charging stations cost more than their slow charging counterparts as they have higher power output per time. Hence, the most expensive charging will be level 3 chargers, which give more power in less time. Also, the battery capacity, if high, will consume more energy and cost more. Nevertheless, on average, it takes about 8 cents per mile to charge a Nissan Leaf with an AC level 2 charger.
Related Article: EV Charging Levels
Related Article: Electric Car Charging Costs: How Much does it Cost to Charge Your Electric Vehicle?
IX. How to Choose Your Right Chevy Volt Charging Station?
Local requirements – Charging stations and their connection requirements often vary for different localities. Asian countries generally employ the CHAdeMO charging convention instead of the America SAE J1772 charging connectors. Hence, buying a charging station that does not meet the local charging requirement will have problematic consequences.
Budget – You will need to consider purchasing a suitable charging station for your Chevy Volt, knowing that a faster charging station always costs more than a slower one. Hence, your right Chevy Volt charger fits perfectly with your budget.
Purpose – Either you intend to buy an EV charging station for personal charging at home, or you plan to set up a charging station operation for other Chevy Volt owners. Understanding the purpose of purchasing the charging station will help you choose the right one. A minimum of level 2 charging stations is required for EV charging business, while a level 1 often suffices for personal home charging.
Driving pattern – Driving within the city or out of town will also influence your decision to get the correct charger for your Chevy Volt. For long-distance driving like intercity and interstate driving, a level 2 charger is often appropriate since a level 1 can still be sufficient for a short-distance drive. However, since the Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, it only makes sense to switch to the gasoline option when traveling long distances.
Battery size – Does size matter? Installed electronics in your Chevy Volt can consume a lot of energy which can run the battery down quickly. And yes, size does matter. So, you may have to find a suitable charger that can quickly top up your battery to get it back on the road in no time.
X. Where to Buy Quality Chevy Volt EV Chargers for Home Use?
Getting a quality Chevy Volt EV charger for home use requires you to recognize your charging requirements and identify the best supplier that can meet these requirements. However, knowing where to get these suppliers is usually challenging for most Chevy Volt owners. Here are some places you can get quality EV chargers for home use
Online search – While search engines may have become popular for searching almost anything, many individuals, including EV owners, still overlook it when searching for things like EV chargers. Fortunately, you can get the contacts of many quality EV charger manufacturers with a simple search query. You can even streamline your results to the most relevant ones with simple search operators like AND, NOT, and OR.
Online store – Many manufacturers, including EV charger manufacturers, are aggregated by online store owners and categorized according to their industry and products for easy access to their products and services. You can filter the results by filling out the price range, product brand, and price.
Exhibition and trade fairs – It’s usually a yearly event where several manufacturers come to showcase their products to prospective buyers. You can often find quality EV charger manufacturers at these exhibitions and trade fairs with the advantage of huge discounts.
Related Article: How to Choose Your Proper Home EV Charger?
Related Article: How to Buy and Import EV Chargers from China
XI. Electrly Advantages for Chevy Volt Owners
Chevy Volt owners have the best in the class of quality EV charger manufacturers with Electrly, which has done nothing but provide some of the most innovative EV charging solutions for more than three decades. Here are some of the advantages of choosing Electrly.
- Rich Experience – Over three decades of experience in the EV manufacturing industry has given them the expertise to build EV charging stations that have met the needs of various EV owners giving them enjoyable and rich experiences over these past decades.
- Top Quality – Their innovative designs and production has been backed by a dedicated team of research and development professionals who deliver the best quality products for their teeming customers.
- Affordable Price – Electrly continued to be one of the most affordable EV manufacturers for so many years as they are surrounded by an abundance of experts and professionals that drive their production cost very low. This allows them to offer very competitive prices without compromising on quality.
- Qualification Certificates – Their mark of quality and international acceptance is their acquisition of necessary certificates that show their high standards of safety and quality manufacturing. These certificates include CE, EN, and UL. IEC, ISO, etc., which are all internationally accepted certifications.
- After-sales Guarantee – Their after-sales support team is dedicated and works round the clock to answer technical questions and help customers solve their issues promptly.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Chevy Volt owners can only get suitable charging stations if they’ve itemized their charging requirements and have considered them in the light of specific criteria. As highlighted in this post, these criteria include location, battery size, drive patterns, budget, and purpose of purchasing the charging station. When coupled with a quality and consistent EV charger supplier like Electrly, these criteria can help you as a Chevy Volt owner meet all your charging needs.
