[zebraitis]

I get it... having the USB ports in the center console make them easily accessible.


EXCEPT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY PLUG SOMETHING IN.


OK... so I plug in a phone. Where does it go? In the cupholder? On the floor? And all the wires. So what is up with all that?


Hey, I have an old 160GB iPod that I can hook up... I could stash that in the center console, except there is no hidden routing for the wire to go INTO the console.


Why is there no USB port in the center console storage?


Why is there no USB port in the Glove Compartment?


And who the **** came up with the stupid phone charger idea in the Premier version?


I was in a Hyundai, and that thing had a charging tray. Like a small drawer. Open it up, put your phone, charging. And you could see the screen.


But the Bolt? If I want to charge my phone, I have to put it into that slot and absolutely lose cell reception capability on my phone... can't see a **** thing on the screen as it is swallowed by the center console. So, I guess I could plug the USB cable into it to use Android Auto … but then why is it in the charger???


Android Auto (or apple auto) SHOULD have just worked with Bluetooth alone.


So stupid.


So many well thought out things in the Bolt... this was not.

 

[shotel]

Why is there no USB port in the center console?

Would you like something like this?

It can be done if you know where to look

 

[zebraitis]

Would you like something like this?

OK, Kudos to timeToy for the documentation, and choosing the right seats for the Bolt. The solid gray is the only one that I think will make sense in the long term.


However, that is a **** of a work-around for something that should have been engineered into the car from the beginning.


This was one of my gripes to Chevy when they gave me the opportunity to talk about what I like and DON'T like about the bolt.


And the QI charger? I took it into Chevy, they put in their tool that tests for charging and said: "works as designed". I took that to mean that it is designed NOT to actually charge a real phone.


For those of us that are in our 40's-50's, the phone is an invaluable tool... for millennials, it is an extension of their arms. With the car designed by the team in Korea, this should have been a no-brainer.


So: to get a USB charger where I want it, I have to tear apart my console, break out the Dremel and buy "stuff" to MacGyver in. I may as well install the 8-track as well, hanging below the center console.


This is not a "Premier" experience.

 

[gern_blanston]

Maybe you should've bought a Leaf.

 

[zebraitis]

Maybe you should've bought a Leaf.

Really? That's helpful.


I don't have to be a blindly ignorant fanboy to appreciate my Bolt. But I will call out when there is an obvious gap with its inherent frustrations.


The center console is lacking.


And, unless I read this wrong, this is the "likes and DISLIKES" forum. So I believe that my communicating my experience here is specifically where I should be doing so.
.

 

[XJ12]

For some of us, it works just fine. Put the phone in the wireless charger and phone hooks up to Bluetooth. I guess that works if you don't use apple car play or android auto. I'm back a generation in technology. But plugging it in, makes no sense to me. Did that on my old car using a USB adapter that went into the cigarette lighter. Then threw the phone into the ash tray that was on the lower dash. Hey, where's the ash tray in the Bolt? Just ran out to the garage and looked. Can't find one.

 

[borkbork]

i think there's a notch for a cable to run into the center console.

 

[XJ12]

i think there's a notch for a cable to run into the center console.

sho'nuff. Just went out and looked. Learn something every day.

 

[LooseBolt]

Look on the bright side. At least you have a Qi charger. Those of us with 2017's have the other one that works for almost no-one. I'd like to see an up-grade path (may side-ways-path) to get my charger replaced with a QI.

Is it possible you phone is too tall to allow the coil in the phone to align with the charging coil. I have an iPhone 8 plus and it appears to me it wouldn't charge even it the charger was Qi. Anybody have this working?

 

[Puregsr]

Is it just my car, but my USB is super touchy. With slight bump to the USB, Android auto loses connection instantly. Due to its location, it can get bumped very easily.

 

[XJ12]

Is it possible you phone is too tall to allow the coil in the phone to align with the charging coil. I have an iPhone 8 plus and it appears to me it wouldn't charge even it the charger was Qi. Anybody have this working?

My phone is pretty tall, about the size of the iPhoneX. I've had it apart and the coil is below the camera and the rest of the length of the phone. So one way I know the coil is completely in the slot. But in that orientation, I have issues with the camera button taking random photos. Lots of pictures of the side of my passenger seat. I've flipped it over with the camera lens down with the button outside the charging slot. The Bolt sees it in there, but it doesn't appear to charge well as a good portion of the coil in the phone is now outside the slot.

 

[max]

I've noticed the same with my iPhone 7 & CarPlay.

 

[borkbork]

Look on the bright side. At least you have a Qi charger. Those of us with 2017's have the other one that works for almost no-one. I'd like to see an up-grade path (may side-ways-path) to get my charger replaced with a QI.

Is it possible you phone is too tall to allow the coil in the phone to align with the charging coil. I have an iPhone 8 plus and it appears to me it wouldn't charge even it the charger was Qi. Anybody have this working?

was thinking about sticking one of these in there:

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Creazy-Wireless-Charger-Circuit-Charging/dp/B079HT5137/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525733934&sr=8-3&keywords=qi+charger+circuit[/ame]

 

[borkbork]

I've noticed the same with my iPhone 7 & CarPlay.

not sure which bolt you have, but the 2017 doesn't support apple devices. the 2018 does.

 

[XJ12]

I took my phone apart to look at the coil position. Although it is placed below the camera, one can feel the raised round coil right smack dead center of the phone. Rethinking that it doesn't matter which orientation the phone is in the wireless charging slot if that's the case. I had previously been placing the phone with the camera lens up so the coil below would be fully engaged. But that position triggers the camera button and takes random pictures as the phone is a very tight fit. Flipping it 180 degrees allows the camera button to be outside but I wasn't sure the phone was charging. I had suspected it wasn't, but the car sees the phone. Today, did a five minute quick check, and the phone did charge from 80% to 82% in five minutes. So it did take a charge. Nice to know. Looking at pictures of the iPhone X the coil likewise looks to be in the center of the phone. So I'm thinking it would also charge in either orientation.

 

[zebraitis]

I just posted the GM list of compatible phones that will work with their charger...


Take a look at: http://www.chevybolt.org/forum/26-e...s-charging-compatible-devices.html#post404586


.

 

[E Drivetrain Future]

The only thing I noticed is my usb ported thumb drive gets mighty warm after it's been connected for a while into that usb 1 and 2 ports on the center armrest area. No biggy. I really have no pet peeves about Bolt EV. My only concern is that I will never want to drive any vehicle but the Bolt EV!