Chevrolet Bolt EV charger: which one fits best?
The Chevrolet Bolt EV charges at home through its on-board charger. That is the unit in the car that turns alternating current from the grid into direct current for the battery. In the Bolt it takes 32 amps on one phase, which comes down to 7.4 kW. That single figure decides your choice at home. A three-phase 11 kW charge point spreads 16 amps over three phases, and this car uses only one of them. It would charge at 3.7 kW, half of what the Bolt can manage. A fixed EV charger also charges more gently and more safely than a household socket.
For the Chevrolet Bolt EV we recommend a charger from our 7.4 kW EV chargers.
Charging specifications of the Chevrolet Bolt EV
| Angabe | Wert |
|---|---|
| Akkukapazität | rund 65 kWh |
| Max. AC-Ladeleistung | 7,4 kW |
| Phasen zu Hause | einphasig, 32 A |
| Reichweite (WLTP) | rund 380 km, je nach Ausführung |
| Ladezeit mit 7,4 kW | etwa 9 Stunden |
| Ladezeit an einer dreiphasigen 11-kW-Wallbox | etwa 18 Stunden |
| Ladeanschluss | Typ 2 bei europäischen Fahrzeugen, Typ 1 bei US-Importen |
| DC-Schnellladen | rund 55 kW (CCS) |
Which charger fits the Chevrolet Bolt EV?
The Bolt uses its on-board charger fully on a single phase. A 7.4 kW EV charger is therefore the natural match, because it offers exactly the 32 amps the car asks for. An 11 kW charge point charges this car slower, so it is not the upgrade it looks like. Do you already have a three-phase connection at home? Then a 22 kW unit does give you the full 7.4 kW. It carries 32 amps on every phase.
One thing is worth knowing before you choose. None of our 7.4 kW units has a built-in MID meter, a calibrated kWh meter inside the EV charger itself. The meter sits in the charger. It counts only what your car takes, separate from the rest of the household. And because it is calibrated, the reading is accurate. You therefore know what charging at home really costs. We carry charge points with this meter at both 11 kW and 22 kW.
Two features that the 7.4 kW units do offer are worth a look. Load balancing means the charger measures what your fuse box has to spare and lowers its power to match. That keeps a long charge within what the box can handle, even with the oven running. App control lets you start charging at the hours when your electricity is cheapest.
Our full range sits on the 7.4 kW EV chargers page. There you can filter on dynamic load balancing and app control. Looking for a calibrated meter as well? Those sit in our EV chargers with a MID meter. For this car the 22 kW EV chargers combine a calibrated meter with full speed.
How long does the Chevrolet Bolt EV take to charge?
The Bolt has a battery of about 65 kWh. On a 7.4 kW charger a full charge takes roughly 9 hours: 65 kWh divided by 7.4 kW. Plug in during the evening and the car is ready in the morning. On an 11 kW three-phase point the same charge takes about 18 hours. The car stays on one phase there and charges at 3.7 kW.
In Europe the Bolt EV was sold as the Opel Ampera-e and has a Type 2 socket. Was your car imported from the United States? Then it has a Type 1 inlet. You charge it at a Type 2 charger with a Type 1 to Type 2 charging cable.
Other Chevrolet models at Wallbox Discounter
Wallbox Discounter has charging advice for the other electric Chevrolets as well. See the overview of all Chevrolet EV chargers:
- Chevrolet Spark EV, the compact city car
- Chevrolet Volt, the plug-in hybrid
Frequently asked questions
Does the Chevrolet Bolt EV charge at 11 kW?
No. The European Bolt takes 32 amps on a single phase, so 7.4 kW is what a home charger delivers. An 11 kW charge point offers 16 amps per phase, and the Bolt uses one of those. That leaves 3.7 kW. A 7.4 kW unit is the faster choice for this car.
Do I need a charge point with a MID meter?
That depends on what you want to know. A MID meter is a kWh meter built into the charger itself. Because it sits there, it counts only what your car takes. And because it is calibrated, you can trust the figure it gives you. Our 7.4 kW units do not carry one. For this car you therefore choose between a calibrated meter and full charging speed. Unless you go for 22 kW, which offers both.
Does the charge point have to be installed by a professional?
We always recommend having the connection done by a qualified electrician. It is safer, and it can matter for your insurance. Wallbox Discounter arranges installation in the Netherlands, Flemish Belgium and Germany, and nowhere else. In the Netherlands and Flemish Belgium you order it together with your charger. In Germany it runs through a free quote, which you can request on our charge point installation page.