Chevrolet covering cost of Level 2 home charging outlet for Bolt EV, EUV buyers

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Most EV drivers charge exclusively at home because of the convenience, and now automakers like GM are looking to ensure that customers are able to maximize their home recharging experience.  With interest in EV’s picking up steam, more and more electric-curious shoppers are making the switch. Recently, Chevrolet identified that having Level 2 charging at home dramatically increases the chances a customer will buy an electric vehicle.  

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The automaker has announced program called “Charged by Chevrolet” for customers of their 2022 Bolt EV and EUV models. As part of the program, standard installation of an at-home Level 2 charging setup is included with the price of the vehicle. The charging setup consists of standard installation of a 240-volt outlet, which drivers can use to charge their Bolt at home via its charging cable. 

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Chevrolet covering cost of Level 2 home charging outlet for Bolt EV, EUV buyers Back to video

Chevrolet says that prime decision factors for EV shoppers are safety, and a maximized at-home charging experience. The 2022 Bolt is equipped and packaged accordingly, shipping with a new suite of high-tech safety features, as well as included at-home Level 2 charging. It’s a move that should drive more EV-curious shoppers than ever into showrooms for a test drive. Combined with a significant price drop versus the previous-generation Bolt, and the addition of new features and safety content, shoppers get more value for their dollar. 

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Before incentives, the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt is priced from $38,198 — down nearly $7,000 from the outgoing model. The larger Bolt EUV starts from $40,198. The Bolt EUV can drive up to 397 km on a single charge, while the lighter Bolt EV can travel up to 417 km.. 

Customers who already have Level 2 charging capability at home can forego the installation, and instead opt for a $750 public charging credit to keep juiced up on the go. These credits can be used for public charging and Level 3 DC fast charging, which allows owners to rapidly refill the battery, or to recharge a nearly-empty battery in under an hour. An EV can also be charged by a standard household plug at 120 volts. This is called Level 1 charging, and it recharges the battery in an EV like the Bolt at a rate of about 4 kilometres per hour. Still, your home’s more powerful 240 volt circuitry can be used for Level 2 charging, which makes recharging more convenient because it’s ten times faster. 

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Hooked up to a Level 2 charger, an EV like the Bolt recharges at a rate of about 40 kilometres per hour. That’s good for fill-from-empty overnight charging in your driveway or garage, and is ideal for active families with multiple drivers, home business owners, or anyone else who needs to be ready to hit the road with a full charge at a moment’s notice. Chevrolet says that next to safety, convenient at-home charging is a key demand of EV shoppers.  The Charged by Chevrolet program is one way they’re helping make it as easy as possible for drivers to make the switch. 

Here are five interesting facts about the new Chevrolet Bolt, and the EV Marketplace in Canada in 2021

• The typical Bolt owner comes from a two-car family, with 57 per cent having never owned a Chevrolet before. Beyond EV advocates, Chevrolet says the new Bolt models intend to draw new customers to showrooms by making the switch to electric as easy as possible. On a compatible public fast-charger, 160 kilometres of range can be added to the Bolt’s battery in just 30 minutes.
• According to the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association (CVMA), there are currently 41 EV models available in Canada, with an additional 17 models to be available in the next few years from automakers like Ford, Stellantis, and GM. The full list of EVs available in Canada can be found here.
• The CVMA says that consumer purchase incentives have helped increase EV sales by some 700 per cent since 2015. While EV adoption is accelerating in Canada, the association says that more incentives, infrastructure, education and collaboration within the industry is required.
• According to Stats Canada, the average Canadian spends about 40 kilometres per day commuting, each way; recent data further suggests that 7 per cent of drivers spend more than 60 minutes commuting per day.
• Despite a dip in usage prompted by pandemic measures, Electric Autonomy Canada has recently reported that public charging activity is now returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the operators of several major Canadian charging networks.

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Chevrolet Bolt Recall

As two all-new Bolt models come to market, GM is tackling a safety recall on previous-generation Bolt models, which is seeing 2017-2019 model year units being recalled for a fire risk related to its battery. 

Currently, owners of previous-generation Bolt models are being asked to take precautions with charging levels, and to park their vehicles outdoors. Replacement battery packs and updated software are among the fixes being rolled out to affected owners. 

Reports say the fire risk stems from a manufacturing defect in the battery pack. For more details on the previous-generation Chevrolet Bolt recall, click here.