[rharshey]

I have two questions:
1. I installed a ClipperCreek EV charger in my garage. The first time I used it, I got 345 miles worth of charge, when I was routinely getting only 240 miles on my 120V or even when the Chevy service station charged it. Is this a problem?
2. I used two DC chargers in the city last week. Both charged only up to 80%, with final mileage of 240. Is this a problem?
Thanks

 

[discodanman45]

I am very confused about this question... You don't get miles of charge from charging, you get kWh. The mileage is estimated from your most recent driving behavior. The second question could be because of time you are allowed to charge and also the Bolt severely limits charging speed over 80%. The EVGO chargers only allow a 45 minute charge I believe. This will get me to around 80% if I am low.

 

[GlenandhisBolt1!]

Are your mileage numbers actual range or the predicted range shown on the dash display? If they are predicted range, are your mileage numbers maximum, most likely or minimum? How many miles are on your Bolt?

The predicted range is only that: it's no guarantee of how far you will get on any given charge. The predicted range (maximum, most likely and minimum) are calculated values based on your driving history. When the Bolt is new, these values tend to be optimistic and are based on limited data. As mileage and driving patterns become more established (more data), the predicted range changes - almost always to lesser numbers. After a few thousand miles, it should be fairly consistent for a given level of charge, especially if you have a predictable driving routine (for example, commuting to and from work five days a week).

I have no idea what's going on with the DCFC chargers: I have never used one.

Are you charging in 'hilltop mode'? Are you fully charging the Bolt, or are you disconnecting it before it has taken it's fill of electrons? With a Level 2 charger (240V, 32 amps), it can take up to 9.5 hours to top off the Bolt. With a Level 1 charger (120V, 12 amps), it may take up to 50 hours.

 

[rharshey]

I am very confused about this question... You don't get miles of charge from charging, you get kWh. The mileage is estimated from your most recent driving behavior. The second question could be because of time you are allowed to charge and also the Bolt severely limits charging speed over 80%. The EVGO chargers only allow a 45 minute charge I believe. This will get me to around 80% if I am low.

Well, I just watch the predicted range shown on the dash display, which are the numbers I quoted in my post. Why would the Bolt limit charging speed if the source is a DC charger, but not a level 2 charger? The 80% cutoff cannot be due to a set time limitation, because the first charger I used stopped at 30min, and the second one (a day later) at 22 min, likely because I started the latter with more charge still remaining.

 

[rharshey]

Are your mileage numbers actual range or the predicted range shown on the dash display? If they are predicted range, are your mileage numbers maximum, most likely or minimum? How many miles are on your Bolt?


>Predicted range. I was quoting the average number in the middle (most likely), not the maximum or minimum. I have ~1300 miles on the Bolt.

The predicted range is only that: it's no guarantee of how far you will get on any given charge. The predicted range (maximum, most likely and minimum) are calculated values based on your driving history. When the Bolt is new, these values tend to be optimistic and are based on limited data. As mileage and driving patterns become more established (more data), the predicted range changes - almost always to lesser numbers. After a few thousand miles, it should be fairly consistent for a given level of charge, especially if you have a predictable driving routine (for example, commuting to and from work five days a week).


> Sure, but the issues I raised happened within a week.

I have no idea what's going on with the DCFC chargers: I have never used one.

Are you charging in 'hilltop mode'? Are you fully charging the Bolt, or are you disconnecting it before it has taken it's fill of electrons? With a Level 2 charger (240V, 32 amps), it can take up to 9.5 hours to top off the Bolt. With a Level 1 charger (120V, 12 amps), it may take up to 50 hours.

> Not Hilltop. Fully charging, but I don't let the most likely mileage dip below 150 before I hook it up.

 

[XJ12]

The Bolt will taper the charge from a DC fast charger. Where anything over 80% is very limited. So you might only be charging to 80% because it takes as long to go from 80% to 100% as it did to get to the first 80%.

 

[Sean Nelson]

I used two DC chargers in the city last week. Both charged only up to 80%, with final mileage of 240. Is this a problem?
Thanks

Some DC Fast Chargers shut off automatically after a certain time limit.

For DC Chargers that don't have an automatic shutoff, you can charge your car to 100% with them. This is not at all obvious because the car and the charger will both display prominent messages telling you how long it will take to reach 80% full. BUT, if you just leave the car plugged in, it will continue charging beyond that, at a slower rate, until it eventually reaches 100%.

It may be a bit rude to do this if other people are waiting for a charge, though, because it ends up not being much faster than L2 charging beyond 80% full. If someone is waiting and you're not in a desperate rush it would be polite to move to an L2 charger.

 

[rharshey]

Thank you!

 

[rharshey]

The Bolt will taper the charge from a DC fast charger. Where anything over 80% is very limited. So you might only be charging to 80% because it takes as long to go from 80% to 100% as it did to get to the first 80%.

Thank you!

 

[rharshey]

The Bolt will taper the charge from a DC fast charger. Where anything over 80% is very limited. So you might only be charging to 80% because it takes as long to go from 80% to 100% as it did to get to the first 80%.

Thank you!

 

[TimBolt]

Well, I just watch the predicted range shown on the dash display, which are the numbers I quoted in my post. Why would the Bolt limit charging speed if the source is a DC charger, but not a level 2 charger? The 80% cutoff cannot be due to a set time limitation, because the first charger I used stopped at 30min, and the second one (a day later) at 22 min, likely because I started the latter with more charge still remaining.

Ignore the predicted range number, there’s a gauge on the left that indicates battery charge, is it at the top, or not?

If the Bolt is fully charged that gauge will be at the top.

How much range is shown once fully charged can vary a lot. If your most recent driving was around town at moderate speeds in pleasant weather it may read 300+ miles. If your most recent driving was dead of winter at 75 mph with heater on full blast it may read 150. Only the battery charge gauge tells you if the battery is fully charged.

The Bolt is designed to charge to 100% regardless of whether it’s being charged by L1 or L2 or DCFC. When charging using DCFC charging will slow down quite a bit above about 80%, but it won’t stop. Some commercial DCFC chargers have time limits, the EVgo chargers shut down after 45 minutes. The Bolt won’t fully charge from near empty in 45 minutes.

 

[octp50]

I have found using the public DCFC chargers in Orange County (California) that they will shut off after charging up to 80%. I've seen this happen with i3's while I've been there so I think it's a restriction EVGO puts on their public chargers for whatever reason. There's one at the Shops at Mission Viejo that does this as does the one in San Clemente. I think you can unplug and plug back in and keep charging but I've been fine with the 80% charge.

I don't have a charger at home due to HOA restrictions (but that may be changing) and I have free L2 charging at work.