How to Prepare Your Home for a Chevy Bolt EV or EUV

When you choose to purchase a Chevy Bolt or Chevy Bolt EUV, you’ll get all the benefits of a more expensive electric vehicle: a gasoline-free vehicle that doesn’t require oil changes, with a significantly smaller carbon footprint for your Jacksonville drives. But what do you need to do to prepare your home for a Chevy Bolt EV or EUV? Let Gordon Chevrolet,inc.’s service department break it down for you so you can easily charge your Chevy Bolt. 

Three Charging Options

Electric vehicles like the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV use a rechargeable battery instead of gasoline. Just like any rechargeable battery, your Chevy Bolt needs to be plugged in. You have three options for plugging in your Chevy Bolt: 

Public Charging/Super Fast DC Charge/Level 3 Charger 

• Fastest charging, but still takes a bit longer than refilling a gas tank. 
• Up to 76 miles of range in about 10 minutes of charging time

Home Charging/240-Volt Charging Unit/Level 2 Charger

• Up to 52 miles of range per hour of charge
• Charger needs to be installed by an electrician

Home Charging/120-Volt Charging/Level 1 Charger

• Your Chevy Bolt includes the necessary charging cable.
• Plugs into a standard three-prong 120-volt outlet
• About 3.5 miles of range per hour of charge, about 20 hours to a full charge

When deciding whether to invest in a 240-volt charger, consider how you drive in the Middleburg area. If you primarily commute less than a total of 50 miles a day and that’s the primary use of your Chevy Volt, it might not be necessary to upgrade to a Level 2 charging station. However, a Level 2 charging station means you can fully charge your Bolt every night, overnight, without worrying about going over your mileage and not being near a public EV charging station. 

Home Charging Station Prices

If you opt for home charging, several factors are going to be at play in determining your final price: 

1. Make sure your home electrical system can handle home charging, whether you’re using 120v or 240v. This might require a visit from an electrician and modifications to your system that will add to the overall price.
2. Comparison shop for your charger at home improvement stores. 
3. Hire an electrician to install your home charging system. 

Here’s what the price breakdown is for Level 1 and 2 charging: 

• Basic 120-Volt Portable Charge Cord (Level 1): Estimated Total of $1,300 to $2,300
• Fast 240-Volt Charging Unit (Level 2): Estimated Total of $1,700 to $2,700

Ways A Chevy Bolt Will Save You Money

While this might seem like a lot of money, a home charging system and Chevy Bolt is an investment that will save you money and pay for itself in very little time. Here’s how:

• Fuel charges: On average, a regular gallon of gasoline costs $2.25 while an electric e-gallon costs $1.24.
• Less maintenance: When you choose a Chevy Bolt you don’t have to spend as much money on regular maintenance. Ditching the combustion engine means no more paying for oil changes, engine belt replacements, transmission fluid flushes, and more.
• Tax incentives: Check with our finance department to find out what tax savings are available to you for buying an EV. 
• Local utility incentives: If you opt for a 240-volt home charger you might be eligible for incentives from your local utility company. 

Drive Into the Future in a Chevy Bolt EV or EUV From Gordon Chevrolet,inc.!

Are you ready to change the way you drive for the better? Shop the Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV inventories at Gordon Chevrolet,inc., then contact us to experience the power of a Chevy EV for yourself with a test drive.