How Long Does It Take to Charge a Chevy Bolt?

If you’ve recently bought a Chevy Bolt or are interested in giving your Normal commute a serious upgrade with an EV, you might be wondering how long it takes to charge an electric car. EVs are great for the environment because they don’t have an internal combustion engine, and that means that you fill your vehicle back up at an electric car charger rather than a gas station. The Chevy Bolt charge time varies depending on whether you’re charging at home or on the go as well as what level of electric car charger you’re using. The team at Leman's Chevrolet City Llc has all the details on charging your EV in the guide below – check it out!

The Three Levels of Electric Car Charging

The Chevy Bolt has an impressive electric range of 259 miles, as well as a 0-60 mph time of just 6.5 seconds and an output of 200 horsepower! When it’s time to recharge your Chevy Bolt, you have three options:

Level 1 Basic: 120-Volt Portable Charger Cord

Every Chevy Bolt comes with a Level 1 120-volt portable charging cord. Level 1 charging uses the same three-prong outlets that power everything from lamps to computers to microwaves. All you have to do is plug your Level 1 charger into an outlet, and you’ll be good to go! However, since these outlets usually charge devices that are much smaller than a car, you’ll only get about 4 miles of charge per hour from a Level 1 charger. While this method of charging is the most convenient, it’s also the slowest and generally should only be used if you need a top-off of a few miles.

Level 2 Fast: 240-Volt Charging Unit

Level 2 chargers connect to 240-volt charging units that need to be professionally installed by an electrician. Level 2 charging is the most common type of charger used by EV drivers, generating around 25 miles of charge per hour. You can recharge from an empty battery in around 9.5 hours, meaning you can plug your Chevy Bolt in after dinner and have it ready for your Decatur commute the next morning! If you’re driving approximately 40-50 miles per day, you can generally recharge the battery in as little as two hours.

Level 3 Super Fast: DC Fast Charging

Level 3 chargers are only available at public fast charging stations, using direct current (DC) power instead of alternating power (AC). These chargers can generate up to 100 miles of range in just 30 minutes! You can find Level 3 public chargers throughout the U.S. as part of networks like Electrify America or PlugShare. If your Bolt is fully out of battery, and you arrive at a Level 3 fast charging station, you may be able to get back up to 100% in two hours!

Finding a Public Charging Station Near You

If you’re looking to charge your Chevy Bolt from the road, it’s easy to find a charging station! Just download the myChevrolet mobile app, and navigate to the Energy Assist feature. From there, not only will the app find nearby charging stations, but it will also come up with an optimized route to the closest one with the shortest wait time!

Find Your Next EV at Leman's Chevrolet City Llc!

Interested in learning more about the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV? Check out our blog posts on the Chevy Bolt EV price and the Chevy Bolt EUV electric range. You can also contact our office for more information or to take an available model out around the Springfield area for a test drive!