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Dismal range range and charging times. Is it just me?

4483 Views 56 Replies 22 Participants Last post by ARob, May 5, 2022

badreed

Discussion Starter · May 3, 2022

Two weeks ago, I bought a 2017 Bolt Premiere from a dealership in Ohio which installed new batteries in over 60 recalled Bolts. The dealership bought these Bolts from GM at an auction, probably recalled leases from around the country, and potential buyers waited until the batteries slowly arrived. I put the deposit down last November. I had to wait awhile, but it’s finally here!

I’m getting about half the range that the car says I should have. I drive like a granny - about 65-70 HWY. My second home is about 59 miles away, but it took 125 ”bolt miles” to get there. The route is 60% highway and the rest country roads at 45-50 mph. I didn’t use A/C or heat.

In addition, the Bolt has been plugged into my 110V outlet (probably 15A) for 27 hours, but I’ve only gained 55 miles in range. The dashboard estimate for full charge was off by 24 hrs.

Any thoughts? Is this normal? I have an electrician coming in a few days to install a NEMA 14-50 outlet, but the lousy range isn’t working for me. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a software setting that I’m missing? There are lots of fast chargers near me as I live near major interstates, but a range of 120m isn’t enough for the pricetag.

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EV Trek 37604

· #3 · May 3, 2022

How many miles per kWh are you getting? That will tell us more, plus is your hill top reserve turned on? Also are you getting a full 100% charge? All the green bars lit like this

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Also charging on 120v is the slowest charge rate you get, are you charging on 8 amp or 12 amp? You have to set it from the charge screen on 120vac charging.

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EV Trek 37604

· #12 · May 3, 2022

Sean Nelson said:
Note that this only applies to 120V charging. Those of us who use the OEM EVSE at 240V don't have to worry about the current setting, it always charges at the 12A limit of the EVSE.

The 2017 EVSE was not a dual voltage, only 120vac. At least mine isn’t.

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EV Trek 37604

· #15 · May 3, 2022

Sean Nelson said:
It's not labelled for dual voltage, and it's got the wrong plug for a 240V outlet, but it's the same EVSE that was delivered to European models with the appropriate 240V plug and it works fine on 240V if you come up with a way to adapt it.

I've been using mine on 240V for going on 5 years now and it saved me having to upgrade the buried line to my detached garage in order to install a higher capacity Level 2 EVSE. I have a 30A panel in the garage that the OEM EVSE works perfectly with.

jmcbrew said:
It will run at 240v 12 amps. It is just not rated for it in the US. You need a special adapter to make it run at 240v, or you can make one for about $20.

If it’s not labeled for it you shouldn’t be using it on 240v.
As a retired electrician it would be a code violation and if it shorted and burned down your house then your insurance would have a way of not paying.
I would only use one if the manufacturer had it approved and labeled as such.
Don’t cheap out and get a level 2 that is approved for 240v.
JMHO

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EV Trek 37604

· #19 · May 3, 2022

badreed said:
Stats:

From your stats it looks like you are running at about 3.2miles per kWh for the last 50 miles, that should give you a total range of around 200 miles, a lower miles per kWh you range will be less higher your range will be more.

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EV Trek 37604

· #21 · May 3, 2022

SpicyBolt said:
This was hotly debated on the Volt forum, as my former Volt has a factory EVSE with the same capacity. It sounds pretty safe based on the research some have done, as well as on how many have adapted it for 240 v. Still, I decided to play it conservative for the reasons you suggested.

I bought a 16 amp Clipper Creek Level 2 for our Volt, and now use it for our Bolt. That too saved me from having to upgrade my buried line to the garage, since that line supports the necessary 20 amp circuit.

OTOH I'm still driving our Bolt without the software update, and even occasionally charge above 80%, so who am I to talk about risk.

I also have a 16 amp level two that I had for my Spark EV, I now carry it and the factory one in the Bolt for emergencies since I now have a Chargepoint Level 2 at home that I have set for 32 amp on a 40 amp circuit.

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EV Trek 37604

· #25 · May 3, 2022 (Edited)

SpicyBolt said:
That's a good point. I recall someone on the Volt forum actually discovered that the innards of the Volt EVSE were made by Clipper Creek. That may be the case for the Bolt too. It may actually be safer to adapt those to 240v, than it is to use a cheapo Chinese Level 2.

Many of those Chinese level 2 EVSEs, especially sold on ebay are also not approved but sold anyway. You have to read the fine print,
Well when it comes to electrical equipment I tend to err on the side of caution. Just my electrical training.

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EV Trek 37604

· #31 · May 3, 2022

redpoint5 said:
The OP is lacking basically all info that would be helpful to evaluate the situation. My first thought was, "what was the starting elevation, and what was the ending elevation". There's a dozen other questions that require answers before providing more definitive feedback.

Insurance absolutely will pay. That's what it does; pays for accidents. You can fall asleep drunk with a cigarette in your mouth and burn down the house, and insurance pays for that.

Now if you, as a licensed electrician, installed something incorrectly that directly resulted in a fire, your business insurance would be liable. If for whatever reason that insurance was inadequate, the homeowners policy would pay.

The Bolt EVSE is designed for 240v as the exact same one is used in European markets, only with a different plug. There's no safety concern here except in what manner one adapts the 120v plug to a 240v receptacle.

You do realize that the 2022 Bolt EUV comes with a actual certified dual voltage EVSE and it’s optional on the Bolt EV. They have a interchangeable pigtail that plugs into the EVSE.

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I’ll reiterate, the ones previously supplied are not dual voltage certified in the US, they have never been submitted for approvals to be used on 240vac to the US regulatory agencies, it may be certified for use in Europe but European certification is not recognized in the US. If you use it on 240vac you do so at your own risk and should be ready to face the consequences if you have an equipment failure. Any electrical device can fail, the Bolt EVSE is not fail proof.
Have a good evening.

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