[RNV]

Got a 2020 Bolt in July 2020. I typically drive maybe 20 to 40 miles per day, so I have been charging exclusively with the 120 volt outlet in my home garage & it suffices for our needs. I don’t have access to level 2 or 3 at home. Question: is it harmful to the Bolt battery to charge exclusively with 120 volt? I read somewhere that charging with either level 2 (240 volt) or level 3 (DC) helps to “condition” the battery of an electric car. Is that true?

 

[ARob]

No, not harmful.

1.44kW will likely not be sufficient to power preconditioning, doing so might cut into range a little, but range doesn’t seem to be a problem for you.


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[micantony]

not at all. charge away
nothing to worry about.

 

[Rick CH]

The conditioning isn't about the flow of electricity doing something beneficial for the chemistry of the battery, it is about the heating or cooling that is done by the car to keep the battery at a "good" temperature (simple way of thinking of it is that Litihium batteries work best when they're at a temperature that we humans find comfortable).

In winter, the conditioning (heating in this case) can consume more energy than the 120v charger can supply, so the battery isn't charging and gaining. Level 2 and DCFC will have enough power to supply the conditioning (if needed) and keep adding charge to the battery.

 

[XJ12]

I read somewhere that charging with either level 2 (240 volt) or level 3 (DC) helps to “condition” the battery of an electric car. Is that true?

The work is all done with the charger in the car. Doubt the battery has any clue that the source is from 120V as the charger (inverter) would have converted the AC to 300 plus DC. Less efficient converting from 120V than 240V.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[2019EVLT]

I've had my 2019 Bolt for about 8 months now, and am using the stock charger on 120V. Never had any need for anything faster. I did buy a 240V 16A charger the week I got the car, because I saw one on sale and wanted one to keep in the car. I use the 240V charger when we're at our cabin an hour from home.

 

[madmike]

Might be a bit harmful to your patience but not the car.

 

[NewsCoulomb]

It's not harmful unless your 120 V plug isn't wired properly for the constant draw. I've had low-quality sockets and a low-quality NEMA plug (on an aftermarket EVSE) start to melt and scorch after long term use.

The biggest drawbacks to 120 V charging are increased charging times (obviously), wasted energy due to being less efficient than 240 V, and less durable equipment that isn't as capable of standing up to repeated use.

 

[Marspilgrim]

Question: is it harmful to the Bolt battery to charge exclusively with 120 volt? I read somewhere that charging with either level 2 (240 volt) or level 3 (DC) helps to “condition” the battery of an electric car. Is that true?

Just a note that you should make sure your outlet and wiring can support the constant load of charging and if your local power isn't always stable you may want to invest $250 in a whole house surge protector on the main panel. And wall power isn't strong enough for conditioning to work, has to be 240+ for that. Also if the car lives outside and your winter is often below the freeze point then you should keep it plugged into L2 so that the battery can protect itself. If it goes below 0 then plugging in is a must really.

 

[Packard V8]

Just a note that you should make sure your outlet and wiring can support the constant load of charging and if your local power isn't always stable you may want to invest $250 in a whole house surge protector on the main panel. And wall power isn't strong enough for conditioning to work, has to be 240+ for that. Also if the car lives outside and your winter is often below the freeze point then you should keep it plugged into L2 so that the battery can protect itself. If it goes below 0 then plugging in is a must really.

So GM has supplied the Bolt with a charger which will allow below-zero weather to kill the battery? Up here in the frozen ass-end of nowhere, I see Bolts left in dead-of-winter airport parking for a week or more. Is the battery going to be ruined?

jack vines

 

[sundog]

So GM has supplied the Bolt with a charger which will allow below-zero weather to kill the battery?

The comments above are describing somethng different: preheating the car&battery can draw several kilowatts. A 120v 12A evse will supply about 1.5 kilowatts. The car will use-up all the power from the EVSE, then suck some more power from the battery. So your range will be less when you start driving. If you're only drive ng 40 miles, this is a non-issue.

Now, as to what happens when you park at the airport for a week... That's a different topic (from charging at 120v.)

 

[Like2bike]

I would encourage you to get a L2 charger for all of the reasons listed above. Except for leaving the car out in the cold issue 🙄. If at all possible garage the puppy anyhoo. And if you've gone electric and never looked back, there's no reason not to get an L2. If you have expensive electric like me $0.22/KWH, the difference in efficiency can be significant expense. And the safety issue is significant. Be careful with anything questionable house wiring with 12A/120V.