Chevrolet Volt EV charger: which one fits best?
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid with a range extender: a small petrol engine that recharges the battery on the move. At home it charges at up to 3.6 kW on a single phase. That is deliberately modest. The battery is small, so it does not need a fast charger to be full again by morning. What matters more is the connection, because the Volt is an American car. You can compare the other models in our overview of Chevrolet EV chargers.
For the Chevrolet Volt we recommend a charger from our 11 kW EV chargers.
Charging specifications of the Chevrolet Volt
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 18.4 kWh (about 14 kWh usable) |
| Max. AC charging power (home) | 3.6 kW (single-phase) |
| Electric range | about 85 km |
| Charging time on a 3.6 kW charger | about 4.5 hours (including charging losses) |
| Charging plug | Type 1 (SAE J1772) |
| DC fast charging | not available |
The Volt has a Type 1 inlet, while European chargers carry a Type 2 socket. You bridge that at home with a Type 1 to Type 2 charging cable, which you plug into the charger yourself. That has one hard consequence for your choice, and the next section covers it.
Which EV charger suits the Chevrolet Volt?
Pick a charger with a socket. Only a socket lets you connect your own cable, so a charger with a fixed Type 2 cable cannot charge this car at all. That is not a preference on the Volt, it is a requirement. Socket models sit throughout our 11 kW EV chargers.
The Volt itself accepts 3.6 kW at most, and only on one phase. So an 11 kW charger will not charge it faster. We still point to that tier for what it can do rather than for its speed. A fixed wallbox also beats a mobile EV charger, because it is safer and you can schedule when it starts.
The first thing worth looking for is a MID meter. That is a certified kWh meter inside the charger, which measures every charged kilowatt-hour as accurately as your utility meter does. It keeps the electricity for the car separate from the rest of your household. Our EV chargers with a MID meter start at 11 kW, which is why we point you there.
App control is the other feature that earns its place here. You set a start time, so the Volt charges overnight rather than the moment you plug in. You also see how much energy each session put into the battery. Chargers that offer this are grouped under EV chargers with an app.
Want to look wider before you decide? Our range of EV home chargers brings every model for home use together, so you can filter for a socket there too.
How long does the Chevrolet Volt take to charge?
The Volt has an 18.4 kWh battery, of which about 14 kWh is usable. On paper that is just under four hours at 3.6 kW. In practice a full charge takes about 4.5 hours, because charging is never fully efficient. Plug the car in during the evening and it is ready long before morning. And because the Volt also runs on petrol, a half-full battery never leaves you stranded.
Other Chevrolet models at Wallbox Discounter
Wallbox Discounter also has charging advice for the fully electric Chevrolet models:
- Chevrolet Bolt EV: fully electric with a larger battery
- Chevrolet Spark EV: compact electric city car
Frequently asked questions about the Chevrolet Volt EV charger
Do you need a three-phase charger for the Chevrolet Volt?
Not for speed. The Volt charges single-phase, so a single-phase charger would do the job. We still point to an 11 kW model, because that is where the socket, the MID meter and the app control sit together. It also stays useful for a next car that charges faster.
Does a MID meter matter for the Chevrolet Volt?
Yes, even on a small battery. A MID meter records your charging on a certified kWh meter, separate from the rest of your household. That gives you an exact figure for what charging at home costs you.
Does an 11 kW charger charge the Chevrolet Volt faster?
No. The Volt accepts 3.6 kW at most, so an 11 kW or 22 kW model gains you no time today. You buy it for the socket, the metering and the next car. Whichever model you pick, we advise having it connected by a qualified electrician. That is safer and it matters for your insurance.