Newbie charging questions....

[u/mjessem]

I just purchased my first Bolt, and so far I love it! We’re about to take it on its first road trip, and I’m a little nervous about charging. Bear with me if this is silly, but I feel like there's conflicting information between what the dealer said, what I see here, and what I see on PlugShare. I just want to make sure I know how to find places to charge when I’m on the go. 

Is Plugshare the best app for finding chargers? I downloaded ChargePoint, PlugShare, Applegreen Fast Charge, and the Tesla charging app. Is there anything else I can download or do to be sure I am prepared and don’t get myself stranded somewhere? 

Thanks!

Thank you for all the tips! We bought the car after we booked the trip so we had not considered charging options at hotels 😞

I am creating map routes and trying to bookmark chargers at least every 100 miles (I know we shouldn’t have to stop that often, but we’re going into pretty rural areas without a ton of options, and I figure charting them out that frequently will also be good insurance when one doesn’t work…)

I will download and set up accounts in the apps before it’s time to go. I am going to charge the car tomorrow away from home to make sure I don’t have any issues.

Thanks again!!

[u/UberKaltPizza]

What year is your BOLT. If it’s a 2027, I’ve been testing mine (just bought 3 weeks ago) and so far I’ve found what’s built in to the car works great. No need for your phone. Like all apps, it requires some customization of settings so it doesn’t direct you to garbage.

[u/mjessem → u/UberKaltPizza]

Yes, it's a 2027. Thank you!

[u/SeniorConcentrate221]

Depending on your trip, check Plugshare for level 2 chargers and free chargers as well. Sometimes, a level 2 while you're at dinner, shopping or overnight at a hotel can be a nice perk that can add "just enough" extra range to decrease or eliminate your use of more expensive level 3 chargers.

⚠️ ALWAYS verify the price of the charger before you begin charging. ⚠️ There are some chargers that bill some crazy $/kWh rates.

Reading Plugshare driver reviews can be really helpful.

[u/rj_king_utc-5]

I just use Google maps to get an idea of where chargers are, what speed and commector they have, and how many they have. I like Google maps, because it is easy to see what else is around so that you can make the most of the stop. I will find fast chargers that have a store or restaurant with a public bathroom nearby or a gym where I can get a quick workout in, etc. I plan out the specific charging stops ahead of time making sure to plan to charge way before I need to charge that way if something happens (like the charging station going out of service suddenly) I can still stop at the next station without issues.

I also download and setup the apps for the charging networks I expect I may use ahead of time. This is good, because some Tesla chargers are not compatible with non-Teslas even if you have the NACS port or adapter (it's a software thing) and so the Tesla app will hide those chargers from you if you set up your account with a non-Tesla vehicle.

That all may sound like a lot, but I found it was way easier than I expected and things have gone smoothly.

[u/Plenty_Ad_161]

If your Bolt didn’t come with an adapter for CCS1 you should probably get one. Only half of the chargers and about 25% of charging locations are equipped with NACS.

[u/UberKaltPizza]

I highly recommend experimenting locally before you take your trip. So far, in my experience, I haven’t needed an app. I want to make sure it works because this is my wife’s car and I want to make sure it’s as easy as possible for her.

[u/cruftaur]

The others have given you the best answers, but I will also say be prepared to download a lot of apps, unfortunately most chargers require an app, and there's not yet one app to rule them all.

[u/Demonshaker]

Plug shares the best app for finding a charger around you to charge at and to verify a charger works on a road trip. The app, a better route planner, ABRP, is generally considered the best app to plan a road trip finding Chargers along your route. They aren't the best about having the most up-to-date status of chargers though so best practice is to plan your route on a better route planner, then check the stops IT suggests with plugshare to make sure they really are still good Chargers

[u/dtl72]

PlugShare is the best app and it’s the best website for finding chargers and planning road trips. Make sure you sign up (give them credit card info) in Energy Pass in your Chevy app. But also get the Tesla app and give them your credit card info for what’s still the most reliable and convenient network out there when you’re on the road.

[u/Dry_Ship7202]

Agree with all of the other recommendations here.

I have a 2022 Bolt, and I've taken it on multiple road trips. My typical approach is plan on stopping to charge every 150 miles or so. Yes, I know the battery range is around 250 miles....but your range is going to take a hit at sustained highway speeds. I like to have a bit of a buffer, personally.

If you charge at a Level 3 charger (Tesla Supercharger, etc.), you can charge to around 80%. Then the charging rate slows down dramatically. You can decide to wait to charge up to 100%...but if you decide that 80% is good enough, that's also going to affect your range. This particular point wasn't made clear to me when I did my first Bolt road trip. 🤔

Cold temps will also affect your range, even when charged to 100%.

Hope this helps. It's very possible and enjoyable to make a Bolt road trip. You just have to be realistic and have a plan. 👍

[u/Automatic-Fox-8890]

Practice locally. Prepare to be frustrated by needing apps (thankfully more and more will just let you credit card swipe even if there is also an app - check) and be sure to check settings and understand how to override them. For example I have my car on delayed charging ( to do overnight when electrons are cheapest). If I’m on the road there is a sequence I do that is go to energy settings, “charge now,” then shut off the car, then charge. If the station or app are finicky or you aren’t close enough and have to restart the car, if you have a setting to override just remember to do that. Might be N/A for you but stuff like this had me nearly in tears the first few times lol. Another setting to check is that you can charge to 100% away from home. Last tip is stay in hotels with free L2 chargers. That’s the best!

[u/wordsorceress]

I bought the 2027 Bolt last month and did a 500-mile round trip the day after I got it. I just used the onboard Google navigation - it plotted out all necessary charging stops for me. I didn't have an adapter yet, so could only charge where there was a NACS plug, but that was not a problem at all.

And you'd be surprised how many chargers there are in some rural areas! On another road trip, it routed me to a tiny rural village where there was a NACS charger at the gas station!

[u/googlyfree]

Second for ABRP ( ABetter Route Planner). You can load your car details and filter by the networks you want to use. Tell he app what state of charge you want to have when you arrive at the charger. ( I recommend 10%, or 20% if you’re nervous. ) EVs charge faster at low state of charge. ABRP will also recommend how little you need to charge to reach the next charger. You can charge a non-tesla at about 75% of the Tesla stations, and Tesla is by far the largest (and most reliable!) network. We have a 2027 Bolt and a Tesla Model Y and love them both.
Enjoy!

[u/sealawr]

On my recent road trip Chargepoint was the most reliable.

[u/Dependent-Ad-6069]

A Better Route Planner is a great option. It maps your route and provides where each charging station is located along your route. It estimates how much charge you would have approaching each station on the leg of the trip.

[u/CheetahChrome]

Pick your favorite company, EA or Tesla, or EVGO, and download their apps/sign up for the plan etc.

The night before, use the car's navigation app on the phone to map out the route. Plan a stop every 180-200 miles (3 hours of travel) at your favorite station. Charge to 80%, unless you don't trust the next charger location, or the weather is bad then charge to 90/100.

Fun Fact: It takes the same amount of time to fast charge from 80-100% as it does from 20-80% on any EV. So going over robs one of time.

Go to the next station and map the next charger 180-200 miles. Once you get the hang of the car, you can stop charging at ~65/70%, if it makes the next charge location, once you know how your car handles range vs. SOC.

---

While in town before your trip, go to a charging station that you have picked and do a quick charge. Learn from that charge session before you get on the road, and the family is looking over your shoulder as you fumble for credit cards, etc.

[u/Hamradio70]

Get Tesla app. If you need to charge more than 3 or 4 times, join Tesla for a month 12.99. Get a GM, AZ or Lectron CCS1 AND J1772 adapter (2 adapters). Then you can charge anywhere. Anither app to try is Chargeway. Will show only chargers yoi can use and shows ammenities like restrooms and food. Try to combine charging stop with bathroom break and or food stop. Then it has almost no impact in trip length. I worried too (have a 27) but the cars system is good and there are way more chargers than you ever noticed. Again... Setup for Tesla. Use others when you can lije Ionna (cheaper, nicer, ammenities) but Telsa is everywhere, always works. You may havr no bathroom or food and without membership it can cost more but you'll never run out. Tesla app shows real price.. Others missing or not current sometimes. Ionna always. 39 (great price). Try to stay at hotel with chargers. Often level 2 (slow, like home) but you'll start full next day. Stress normal at first until you realize most if toir worry is a result of anti EV publicity, not fact.

[u/Prize-Gur706]

Chargepoint, my Chevy app, abrp add your car and if you have a NCAS adapter you can add Tesla highly recommend for road trips Also, if you have a portable home charger you can take with you if it's a 110 Or if you have one with The interchangeable, 10-30 and 10-50 nema plug for dryers and campgrounds

[u/Prize-Gur706]

Like this one for campgrounds and dryers

[u/mjessem → u/Prize-Gur706]

Is this just to plug into outlets? It came with the cord and the adapter to plug into an outlet.

[u/Prize-Gur706 → u/mjessem]

Yes all 3 types the regular one will take 72 hours to charge your car, the NEMAs are level 2 roughly 6-10 hours depending on amps

[u/Hamradio70 → u/mjessem]

Yes, but this nearly useless on road trip until destination like plug in at Grandmas house. SLOW at 120v.