How Long Does It Take To Charge a Chevy Bolt EV?

The era of electric vehicles has clearly arrived, even though they currently still make up only a small part of the larger automobile market. Virtually every major manufacturer, from Audi to Ford to Honda to Renault and Volkswagen, offers either electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or both as part of its lineup. Nationwide, there are about 1.4 million electric vehicles on the roads, according to USAFacts.org.

At Applegate Chevrolet, we’re very proud of the progress Chevrolet has made with the Chevy Bolt electric vehicle since it was first introduced in 2017. One of the first questions most people who are new to electric vehicles ask is obvious: How long does it take to recharge?

How Long Does It Take To Charge a Chevy Bolt EV?

The answer, as always, is a confounding “it depends.” In real life, charge times will fluctuate based on the age and health of the battery, the capacity of the charger, various settings in the vehicle, and the climate (specifically, the outdoor temperature). You can charge your Chevy Bolt slowly at home or more quickly at public charging stations, and you can also use a combination of the two.

Charging at Home

Using a standard Level 1 charging kit — based on plugging into a 120-volt household three-pronged outlet — will give you about 4 miles of range per hour of charging. In other words, if you plug in at 6 p.m. after work and let it charge until 6 a.m., you’re ready for about 48 miles. Home charging may come in most handy, according to Chevrolet, when used to top off your tank before heading out again in the morning.

A more realistic scenario for home charging is the use of a Level 2 Dual Level charge kit, which more than doubles the speed of charging. Based on the use of a 240-volt outlet, you can add about 25 miles of range for every hour of charging. That equates to having the ability to go from running on empty to having a full charge in about 10 hours.

You may also be able to install a fast Level 2 charger at your home, which brings your battery to a full charge in about seven hours, at a rate of about 39 miles of range per hour of charging. See how Chevrolet describes your options here.

Charging in Public

Level 2 charging stations are also available in public places at the same rates. Plug in at stores, restaurants, garages, hotels, parks, or other venues, and you will get the same rate of about 39 miles of range per hour of charging. You may be able to charge your car when you get to work, or visit a business, or maybe even while at the park just down the street from your house. You will go from zero to full in about seven hours. Note that some charging stations will require a fee, but others may be complimentary.

The last option provides the quickest charge. Using DC fast charging for sped-up charging on the go can add up to 100 miles of range in about a half hour. Depending on the model year of your Bolt, you may need the DC fast-charge port on your vehicle. The good news is there are more and more fast-charging stations being installed nationwide, and you can find them using the MyChevrolet App with Energy Assist. The app will help you locate the closest of the 80,000 electric vehicle public charging stations available across North America.

What Is the Chevrolet Bolt Experience?

Chevrolet makes both the Chevy Bolt EV, an electric vehicle that is akin to a sedan, and the Chevy Bolt EUV, an electric vehicle that comes in the chassis of a sport utility vehicle. The EUV joined the lineup for the 2022 model year and is part of a larger push by General Motors to introduce 30 new EUVs by 2025. To help encourage adoption, Chevrolet announced earlier this year it would cover the cost of installing Level 2 charging technology for anyone who buys or leases a new 2022 Bolt EV or Bolt EUV.

One of the biggest distinguishing features of the Bolt EUV is the addition of a feature that Chevrolet calls Super Cruise, a true hands-free driver assistance system on enabled roads. Super Cruise offers new approaches in technology such as a Driver Attention System that uses a small camera on the top of the steering column and works with infrared lights to determine where the driver is looking whenever Super Cruise is in operation.

Both of the 2022 Bolt EVs are equipped with new instrument panels, new vehicle controls, and new seats, along with a 10.2-inch-diagonal infotainment color touch screen and integrated climate controls. The cars also include the 8-inch-diagonal reconfigurable color gauge display.

Connectivity technologies offered in the Bolt EUV and Bolt EV include new wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection capability, as well as wireless phone charging and the availability of a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot.

See the Chevy Bolt at Applegate Chevrolet

Explore the unique experience of driving the Chevy Bolt electric vehicle or electric utility vehicle at Applegate Chevrolet in Flint, Michigan. Our experienced sales staff can answer your questions and set you up for a test drive. We can also introduce you to any and all new models in the Chevrolet lineup. We are a full-service dealership specializing in new Chevrolet cars, crossovers, full-size SUVs, and trucks.

Our team is ready to address your complete spectrum of needs. Our finance center staff will work with you to find a loan or lease deal that works with your budget at great rates, while our service center team provides repair and maintenance services to help keep your car rolling for as long as possible.

Call us or contact us online today! We’d love to work with you!