EV Life, Part 2 - 2016 Chevrolet Volt


You're not really living the EV life if you ignore the standard household-outlet method. Here's what happened when we plugged in our 2016 Chevrolet Volt for the evening.
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You're not really living the EV life if you ignore the standard household-outlet method. Here's what happened when we plugged in our 2016 Chevrolet Volt for the evening.
Comments
At night, the compressor, shop-vac, etc. that may also be on that circuit should be inactive...that's one of the advantages of charging at night.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Fumbling around with charging misses the concept of the Volt's commuting flexibility. Want to drive 100 miles roundtrip but have only slow 120-volt charging at home instead of a speedy 240-volt Level 2 charger? Let the Volt's gas engine reduce your nighttime charge duration. On the highway, force the engine on with the "Hold" mode (pages 180-183 of the owner's manual, BTW) to maintain battery charge and then switch to electric "Normal" mode driving on roads below 50 mph where the electric motors are most efficient and fun. The gas engine will sip fuel at a Prius-like 45+ mpg on the highway while it links with the electric motors and maintains the battery charge level. The lower overall battery consumption on city streets in electric mode will dramatically reduce the charging time necessary at the end of the day. That's how you can make the slow 120-volt charging work if your daily driving exceeds the Volt's typical 40- to 60-mile electric range.
Too complicated? Then do what every serious EV driver/homeowner does: Install a Level 2 charger with a 25-foot cord in your garage or side of your house for the driveway. The Volt will charge up in 4 to 5 hours at night (potentially on cheaper, off-peak utility rates) while you sleep and dream about the Tesla you really should have.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Someone like the Edmunds editor with a 120-mile roundtrip commute may not have the necessary 13 hours of 12-amp charge time available if they work an 8-hour day at the office, need a minimum of 2 hours for their lengthy roundtrip commute and drive for any activities/errands before or after work.
And then if their 120-volt outlet is on a 15-amp circuit -- not 20 -- like my garage, which is also tied into two other rooms in the house, the circuit breaker won't like small appliances on that circuit competing with the 12-amp Volt.
If that's not enough to think about, the charging time is also extended depending on temperature. In my 115-degree Phoenix garage during the summer, I add almost an hour to the charge time because the Volt's on-board battery temperature maintenance system is running fans and liquid cooling the battery using electricity siphoned off the current flowing into the charging system. I would think battery heating would use even more juice in very cold temps.
Easy solution: Use the gas engine in Hold mode occasionally or install a Level 2 charger.