Finding the best Chevy Bolt chargers for home use can be challenging due to the wide variety of options available today, despite the vehicle’s compatibility with J1227 chargers for Level 1 and Level 2 charging and a CCS Combo connector for DC fast charging (Level 3 EV charging).
This guide provides a comprehensive guide to selecting the best Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV charger for your needs. We’ll compare different charger types, highlight top-rated models, and offer expert advice to help you make an informed decision.
Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, a portable charger for on-the-go convenience, or a feature-packed smart charger, this guide has you covered.
Table of Contents
- Summary of the Best Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV Chargers for Home Charging
- Best Chevy Bolt Chargers Key Preferences
- Recommended Chevy Bolt Chargers
- How We Chose The Best Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV Charger
- 48 Amps Chevy Bolt Chargers Installation.
- Daily Travel Distance with Chevy Bolt Level 2 Charger
- Conclusions.
Summary of the Best Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV Chargers for Home Charging
Best Budget Chevy Bolt Charger
EMPORIA Level 2 EV Charger
Best Portable Chevy Bolt Charger
BougeRV Portable 48 Amp EV Charger Level
Top Features In a Chevy Bolt Charger
Wallbox Pulsar Plus Level 2 Smart EV Charger
No products found.
Best Chevy Bolt Chargers Key Preferences
After purchasing a Chevy Bolt for our 22-year-old son, we encountered an issue: he wasn’t fond of the OEM Dual-Level Cord Set Level 1 charger. He often remarked that it wasn’t “cool” and felt it required too much manual effort. Despite appreciating its dual functionality and charging speeds, he found its lack of smart charging capabilities didn’t suit his tech lifestyle.
Our son perfectly fits the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV owners demographic: a Millennial-aged between 18 and 34, residing in urban and suburban areas with access to charging infrastructure. He uses the vehicle mainly for commuting and short trips, prioritizing environmental consciousness and sustainable living. With a college education, he’s drawn to the Bolt EV’s competitive pricing and potential long-term cost savings over gasoline-powered vehicles.
I asked him what type of charger for Chevy Bolt he preferred. He gave me a list: he wants a smart fast charger that works with his smartphone, one that is well-designed and portable, budget-friendly, easy to use, complements his lifestyle in terms of design and aesthetics, made from sustainable materials or energy-efficient, and lastly, portable.
Recommended Chevy Bolt Chargers
Best Budget Chevy Bolt Charger
EMPORIA 48 Amp Level 2 EV Charger
The Emporia 48 Amp Level 2 EV charger offers solid performance at a budget-friendly price compared to the Chevrolet GM PowerUP LEVEL 2 charger which supports the same kilowatts/amp of 11.5 kW / 48 amps.
It’s easy to install and use, providing reliable charging for your Chevy Bolt. While it lacks some advanced features found in pricier models, it delivers on the essentials. If cost is a primary concern, the Emporia is a strong contender.
Best Portable Chevy Bolt Charger
BougeRV Portable 48 Amp Level 2 EV Charger
The BougeRV Portable 48 Amp Level 2 EV charger excels in flexibility and comes in a compact design compared to the Chevrolet GM PowerUP LEVEL 2 charger.
Its portability makes it a convenient choice for those who frequently change locations or need to charge their Chevy Bolt away from home. Despite being portable, it doesn’t compromise on charging speed, offering efficient charging on the go. However, it might not be as feature-rich as the Wallbox Pulsar.
Top Features In a Chevy Bolt Charger
Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 Amps Level 2 Smart EV Charger
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is a feature-packed powerhouse. It offers advanced functionalities like smart charging, load management, and app control, making it a top choice for tech-savvy Chevy Bolt owners. However, its premium features come with a higher price tag compared to the EMPORIA and BougeRV, however, its price points are lower compared to the Chevrolet GM PowerUP LEVEL 2 charger which offers almost similar features.
No products found.
If you prioritize cutting-edge technology and control over your charging experience, the Pulsar Plus is worth considering, but be prepared to invest more.
How We Chose The Best Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV Charger
How we selected the best Chevy Bolt Chargers in our list:
- Amperage: 48-amp Level 2 EV fast chargers since it’s the fastest bolt charger for home charging.
- Smart charging features: App integration for convenience and control.
- Budget-friendly: Priced under $500.
- Portability: Easy to transport and use in different locations.
- Wide compatibility: Works with the common NEMA 14-50R outlet found in urban and suburban areas and our 240V split-phase home electrical system.
- Aesthetic appeal: Prioritized stylish and modern charger designs.
Comparing Level 1, 2, and 3 Chevy Bolt Chargers
There are three types of Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV chargers, Level 1, 2, and 3 all making get Chevy Bolt one of the most versatile EV-charging electric vehicles in the market today, using this charger, you can charge a Chevy Bolt at home or public charging stations equipped with either a J1227 connector for Level 1 and Level 2 charging or a CCS Combo connector for DC fast charging.
Level 1 charging station for Chevy Bolt
Although the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV can be charged with 120V Level 1 EV chargers such as the Level 1 Lectron EV charger, we omitted them for the slowest charging speeds of charging the Chevy Bolt at 4 miles per range per hour, meaning that it might take more than a day to charge the Chevy bolts Lithium-ion battery.
Level 2 charging station for Chevy Bolt
Since we had experience with the slow charging speeds of the OEM Dual-Level Cord Set Level 1 charger that came with the Chevy Bolt, considering a 240V level 2 EV charger would be an upgrade allowing us to charge the Chevy Bolt battery to full charge in less than 9.5 hours.
There are two types of Level 2 EV chargers, hardwired and plug-in EV chargers, we omitted hardwired Level 2 EV chargers because of the complex installation processes and would be ideal for suburban and urban EV charging experiences. Instead, we only included Level 2 EV chargers that are plug-and-play and fit in NEMA 14-50 outlets which are the most common EV charging outlets available in the United States.
Level 2 EV chargers come in various amperages, ranging from 15 to 80 amps. The charging speed increases with higher amperage. Due to the Chevy Bolt onboard charger’s maximum rating of 48 amps, we opted for a 48-amp Level 2 EV charger.
Choosing a lower amperage would result in slower charging speeds, so we selected chargers capable of delivering the maximum amperage (48 amps) supported by the Chevy Bolt.
We also opted for Level 2 EV chargers that offer smart EV charging capabilities and have a mobile application integration and omitted all other Level 2 EV chargers without smart EV charging capabilities and mobile application integration.
After narrowing down our research, we were left with three key factors to consider (cost, portability, and Aesthetics) ), and three 48 amps Chevy Bolt chargers ( EMPORIA 48 Amp Level 2 EV Charger, BougeRV Portable 48 Amp Level 2 EV Charger, and Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 Amps Level 2 Smart EV Charger), we classified the chargers based on the cost as the top priority, followed by portability and lastly the aesthetics and designs of the chargers.
We chose the EMPORIA 48 Amp Level 2 EV charger as the best Chevy Bolt EV charger because of its budget-friendly cost compared to all others on our list. The BougeRV Portable 48 Amp Level 2 EV charger ranked second due to its small size and weight, making it the most portable option. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 Amps Level 2 smart EV charger came third, offering cool features but with a higher cost that influenced our decision.
DC Fast Charging for Chevy Bolt
Charging the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV with a DC fast charger is one of the fastest ways to charge its Lithium-ion battery which takes only 1.2 hours to fully charge a bolt battery, unfortunately, the costs to purchase a DC fast charger are way too high, and even considering being able to purchase a DC fast charger, our split phase home electrical system cannot be able to support the high load requirements of DC fast chargers which require three-phase electrical system.
48 Amps Chevy Bolt Chargers Installation.
Whether you prefer the EMPORIA 48 Amp Level 2 EV charger, The BougeRV Portable 48 Amp Level 2 EV charger, or the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 Amps Level 2 smart EV charger their installation process is the same, they are all compatible with Split-phase home electrical system common in United States and Canada.
All 2023 Chevy bolt models come with an 11.5kW onboard charger, which supports a maximum of 48 amps Chevy Bolt Level 2 charger, to install the 48 amps you will need a 60 amps double pole circuit breaker fitted into your 240V split phase electrical panel to protect your electric vehicle branch circuit offering an 80/20 rule required by NEC regarding the installation of continuous loads circuits.
Our double-pole circuit breaker of choice is the Siemens Q260 60 Amp Double Pole Type QP Circuit Breaker that should be fitted in the double pole circuit breaker slot of your 240V split phase electrical panel.
After installing a dedicated circuit breaker to protect your electric vehicle branch circuit you will need the two hot wires to connect the double pole circuit breaker to the NEMA 14-50R EV charging outlet, the two wires should be 4 AWG (21.15 mm²), and should be connected to the hot terminals of the NEMA 14-50R outlet, the next step is to connect the earth wire to the grounding bus of the electrical panel and make sure the electric vehicle branch circuit is properly earthed.
The image below shows how to connect the NEMA 14-50R hot wires and grounding wire to the NEMA 14-50R outlet terminals.
Once you’ve installed the electric vehicle branch circuit wires and properly grounded your Chevy EV charging circuit, ensure it mirrors the diagram below.
The above diagram depicts a 48 Amp Chevy Bolt branch circuit connected to a NEMA 14-50R outlet.
Daily Travel Distance with Chevy Bolt Level 2 Charger
With this setup, my son optimizes his charging routine by charging his Chevy Bolt for 5 hours on weekdays. Since he spends weekends visiting his girlfriend and doesn’t charge the Bolt during that time, he averages 45 miles daily for school commutes and doubles that on weekends. Despite this schedule, the chart below shows the Chevy Bolt maintains sufficient charge. This charging strategy helps keep the Chevy Bolt battery healthy by avoiding daily full charges and deep discharges.
Conclusions.
In conclusion, choosing the right charger for your Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV is crucial to optimize your EV ownership experience. After reviewing various options, we’ve highlighted several standout choices based on different criteria.
For those on a budget, the EMPORIA Level 2 EV Charger offers a reliable and cost-effective solution without compromising essential features. Its ease of installation and solid performance make it a practical choice for home charging.
If portability is your priority, the BougeRV Portable 48 Amp EV Charger stands out. Its compact design and compatibility with different power outlets ensure flexibility for charging Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV on the go, whether at home or away.
For those seeking advanced features and smart capabilities, the Wallbox Pulsar Plus Level 2 Smart EV Charger delivers its sleek design, Wi-Fi connectivity, and app-based controls. It not only enhances convenience but also provides insights into charging habits and energy consumption.
No products found.
When selecting a Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV charger, consider key preferences such as charging speed, portability, smart features, and ease of installation. Each of these factors can significantly impact your daily charging routine and overall satisfaction with your electric vehicle.
In our evaluation process, we took into account the essential features required for efficient charging, including power output, brand popularity, safety certifications, durability, and daily applications. These elements ensure that the chargers recommended not only meet but exceed the expectations of Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV owners.
Whether you opt for a Level 1, Level 2, or DC fast charger depends largely on your charging needs and infrastructure. Level 1 chargers are suitable for overnight charging at home, while Level 2 chargers like those reviewed provide faster charging speeds ideal for daily use and home EV charging. DC fast chargers offer rapid charging on the go, perfect for longer trips or quick top-ups.
Installation of 48 Amps Chevy Bolt chargers reviewed typically involves a professional setup using a NEMA 14-50R outlet to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes. It’s important to consult with a qualified electrician to handle the installation and ensure optimal performance of your charger.
About the Author: James Ndungu
James Ndungu, founder and editor-in-chief of Electric Vehicle Geek, brings over five years of hands-on experience in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) selection, permitting, and installation. He specializes in assisting businesses and homeowners in the United States with a seamless transition to electric vehicles.
As a certified EV charger installer and holder of advanced certifications, including the EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), Diploma in Electric Vehicle Technology, and Diploma in Engineering Fundamentals of Electric Vehicles, I provide expert guidance and in-depth reviews on the latest EV charging equipment.
Last update on 2024-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
