How Long Does it Take to Charge a Chevy Bolt?

If you’re an environmentally conscious driver in the Schaumburg area, then an electric vehicle (EV) like the new Chevy Bolt makes sense for you. Instead of burning fuel, your EV runs on electricity. That means you save money by avoiding the pump, and you do your part by reducing your carbon footprint. The 2020 Chevy Bolt is one of the top electric vehicles available. While driving an EV is a great choice, you might be wondering, “How long does it take to charge a Chevy Bolt?”. Luckily, charging a Chevy Bolt at home is easy and doesn’t take too long. Learn more with Biggers Chevrolet!

Charging Your Chevy Bolt at Home or in Public

The Chevy Bolt gets an EPA-estimated 238 miles of range on a single full charge. The Nissan Leaf, on the other hand, gets on 151 miles of range. Talk about impressive range! Not only does the Bolt provide a long range before requiring recharging, there are also multiple Bolt charging options. Learn more about them with Biggers Chevrolet.

Chevy Bolt Battery Charge Time by Charging Option

1. Level 1 Basic: This first Bolt charging option lets you to charge your Bolt at home and gives you 4 miles of charge per hour. This comes standard on even entry-level Bolt models. An advantage of this option is that you can charge anywhere that has a 120-volt, three-prong standard grounded outlet. It’s recommended to charge your electric vehicle overnight with this option, as a 12-hour charge gives you approximately 48 miles of range. It’s also recommended to charge your vehicle every day, so the battery never runs out as you drive around Bartlett.
2. Level 2 Fast: The 240-volt level 2 Bolt charging option is for home or public stations and gives you about 25 miles per hour of charge. With the level 2 charging system, you need to have the plug professionally installed by an electrician. That said the effort and expense can be well worth it. This is, in fact, the recommended option for home use as it’s the most convenient option and provides the shortest Chevy Bolt battery charge time. If you drive approximately 40-50 miles day, you could fully recharge the battery in about 2 hours. If you drive about 100 miles roundtrip on your commute or to a fun adventure to see the top historic places in Elgin, you could recharge the battery in approximately 4.5 hours. If the battery is empty, this EV charges fully again in 9.5 hours. It’s still recommended to recharge overnight. With the level 2 charger, you can recharge your Bolt every couple of days.
3. Super Fast: This Chevy Bolt charging option is for public stations only, meaning if you’re looking to charge your Chevy Bolt at home, it’s probably not the best choice for you. What’s the benefit? This rapid Bolt charging option gives you around 90 miles of range in about 30 minutes of charge. It requires an available DC Fast Charge port and is only available at locations with such a port. DC Fast Chargers are available at an extra cost for Bolt owners and is useful if you’re out and need to fully charge your battery. This electric car charger replenishes up to 160 miles in about an hour.

Benefits of Electric Cars

Now you know that the Chevy Bolt charges fairly quickly with any of its multiple charging options. You also know that it offers longer range than competitors like the Nissan Leaf. But what are some benefits of choosing an electric car vs. a gasoline car? While you may not have to worry about things like how long it takes to charge a Chevrolet Bolt if you choose a gasoline vehicle, there are other benefits to buying or leasing an EV, like:

• Reduced Maintenance Costs: When you buy a gasoline car, you have to worry about wearable items like brakes and tires. You still have to replace these items in EVs. That said, EVs often slow down more quickly than gasoline vehicles due to the way power delivery works, reducing brake wear. Plus, you won’t need to worry about things like cooling system checkups, timing belt replacement, or regular oil changes with an EV.
• Reduced Operating Costs: How much does it cost you to fill up a gas car? It largely depends on the gas tank size and vehicle fuel efficiency. Still, most people can’t fill up a compact sedan for less than $20-$25 these days. With an average fuel cost of $2.50/gallon and a 15-gallon tank, a fill-up will cost around $37.50. Similarly, most average drivers can expect to pay about $2,000 a year on gas. By contrast, with the average cost of electricity in the U.S. at around $0.12/kwH, for the average driver who drives 15,000 miles a year, it should cost around $540 annually for EV charging.
• Reduced Emissions: EVs emit significantly less than gasoline vehicles — especially if you rely on solar or alternative charging means.
• Instantaneous Torque: Due to the nature of internal combustion and things like turbos, torque in gasoline cars is sometimes delayed. EVs, by contrast, deliver near-instantaneous torque.

Go Electric at Biggers Chevrolet in Elgin

Are you ready to buck gasoline and electric with the new Chevy Bolt? With three charging options, charging your Chevy Bolt at home or in public is quick and easy! What’s more, depending on what you choose, you can reduce your Chevy Bolt battery charge time significantly. Learn more about keeping your battery replenished at home and on the go, like when your dining at one of these Elgin restaurants by contacting us or visiting our showroom near Streamwood.