Many owners have flagged the Bolt’s early taper points as a reason for elongated fast charge stops. This is where the car’s battery management software and charging profile enter the equation. However, if that power level can be maintained for longer than previous model years, the 2020 Chevy Bolt EV will still charge slightly faster than them. Yes, 55kW as the maximum limits how much the car can take advantage of increasingly high-power charge stations. The one kernel of hope for prospective buyers (and returning lessees of earlier model years) lies in the 2020 model year’s charging profile. However, power level is only one factor in how long it takes to fast charge an electric vehicle, so let’s examine another that could yet cut charge times for the 2020 model.ĭC Charging Could Still Be (Slightly) Faster in a 2020 Chevy Bolt EV If you’re in the market for the new model year and wondering how far it will go with the new battery chemistry, we put together some seasonal range predictions for the 2020 Chevy Bolt EV. It does translate better than kWh for the general public, however, and 100 miles is up from the 90 that GM previously claimed (we'll see why in the next section). Measuring in miles added is a moving target, of course, as available range depends heavily on factors like speed, terrain, driving style, and use of the HVAC system. This all aligns with GM’s recently updated press line that the Bolt EV adds "100 miles in 30 minutes" on a sufficiently equipped DC fast-charge station. Watch how a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV charges to 80% on Electrify America in the video below (Please subscribe to Torque News YouTube Channel for daily automotive news and analysis). (Note that most of these videos reflect old pricing and Electrify America's new tiers make it significantly less expensive.) This and other threads of conversation from early test drives around the state confirm that the car tops out at 55kW.Īs you’ll see from the video below and other DC fast charge sessions documented on my channel, that’s about the same as we’ve seen in our 2017 Chevy Bolt EV on 150+ kW stations in Massachusetts and upstate New York. In one charge session shown on Twitter, the 2020 model tested (in a polarizing new Oasis Blue color) goes from 16-50% in 27 minutes, pulling in 24.2kWh in that time frame. That’s as long as the vehicle requests it, of course, which GM seems unwilling to let the current incarnation of the Bolt EV do. Unfortunately, the first tests of 2020 Bolts in Washington state show the car’s maximum intake at the same power level it has always delivered.ĭuring charge sessions conducted on the high-power Electrify America stations at Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, WA, none showed the 2020 models pushing past the 55kW mark.Īccording to Electrify America, all of the CCS connectors at this station are capable of pushing out 150kW or more. In short, it only hops ahead of its nearest competitors by a few miles and would require additional changes to charge faster than the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric or Kia Niro EV, which max out around 75kW. Last month, we looked at why its greater range might not be enough of an improvement to the 2020 Chevy Bolt EV now that the all-electric field is more crowded. Let’s take a look at some of these early tests and what they mean for the 2020 Bolt EV’s overall fast charge time. Various updates emerging from social media show the 2020 Chevy Bolt EV topping out at 55kW, the same rate familiar to anyone fast charging a previous model year with the 60kWh battery pack. Tests of the latest model year Bolt EV are underway and it looks like GM won’t deliver on one of the most commonly requested improvements: increasing the car’s DC fast charge rate.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |