[ViperMTP]

I am thinking about buying a 220 volt charger to install in my garage. The 4 hour empty to full charge time sounds awesome. However, I have been reading that charging at a high rate like that in less than ideal temperatures can stress the battery (gassing, metal plating, excess heat). So, I only want to use the fast charging as needed.

My question is, can I vary my charge rates on a 220 volt charger to be more in line with the 110 volt 8 or 12 amp charging of the Volt's potable charger? Would I set the rate through the car like I currently do, just with additional options since it would be connected to a 220 volt source?

 

[Steverino]

Your Volt will not be stressed with a 240V EVSE. Plugin, charge, don't worry. Read up on the Volt's superb battery liquid cooling system as well as the built-in top and bottom buffers.

 

[canehdian]

240V charging on a volt is not a high rate, nor stressful.
It's less than 0.2C, which is basically on the lowest end of the standard charge spectrum for a lithium-ion battery (0.5C is typical).
Any lower and you're at trickle charge levels.

"Stressful" would be higher than 1C (or 5x faster than a volt is capable)

 

[freshcut]

Regen I think puts far more stress on the battery than charging. Your Volt will charge at about 3.6kWh, about as much as coasting from about 60mph. Braking generates several times that up to as much as about 60kWh. Even mountain mode generates at least 6kWh which is double standard charging. With as many people operating L2 on a daily basis, I don't think there is much concern at all. Keep in mind too that the Volt has some very advanced circuitry to monitor the battery both for state of charge and temperature and will adjust to maintain optimum conditions.

 

[ViperMTP]

That's good to hear. I'm a proponent of making things last forever, so I'm glad 220 charging is not a concern.

Now, just out of curiosity, can you decrease the charging rate down to 110 8/12 amp while using a 220 charger?

 

[edk-austin]

Certainly the 16A 240V setting is no strain to Volt, especially with the limited top end SOC.

However, to specifically answer the OP, the Volt does follow the J1772 standard for max current signaled from the EVSE. So, yes, the 240V L2 charge current can be reduced/limited. Which is why the gen 2 factory L1, when running at 240V, does limit the OBCM to 12A, not 16A. And I've verified that a L1 120V EVSE can throttle the Volt OBCM down to 6A, per J1772 standard for minimum current.

 

[ViperMTP]

Thank you all for your responses. Edk-Austin inspired me to read up on the J1772 standard and my answer was right there. You can indeed vary the charge rate from the J1772 240v connection by changing the charge rate in the Volt's charger through the leaf button.

 

[sosmerc]

Thank you all for your responses. Edk-Austin inspired me to read up on the J1772 standard and my answer was right there. You can indeed vary the charge rate from the J1772 240v connection by changing the charge rate in the Volt's charger through the leaf button.

"the leaf button".......I like that!!

 

[freshcut]

Actually that charge rate in the Volt menu applies only to the 120V connection. 240 is not affected. It's to protect wiring at the wall since some people don't have access to a dedicated 120V outlet and share it with other outlets on the same circuit. The charge rate allows a lower 8amp setting which is actually the default for 120V on, I believe, '13 and newer but possibly includes the '12.

 

[bentbiker]

Actually that charge rate in the Volt menu applies only to the 120V connection. 240 is not affected. It's to protect wiring at the wall since some people don't have access to a dedicated 120V outlet and share it with other outlets on the same circuit. The charge rate allows a lower 8amp setting which is actually the default for 120V on, I believe, '13 and newer but possibly includes the '12.

+1

OP, you can do what you suggest only by purchasing a L2 EVSE that allows you the change the pilot signal that is sent to the Volt, telling it the max current available is X. Not many offer that functionality. I know VegasBrad offers such units made from OpenEVSE parts.

 

[canehdian]

Changing the pilot rate of the EVSE is a hardware mod. You'd have to purchase one that is designed to be adjustable as part of the installation (check the manuals). Some might be ordered from the manufacturer with the lower level pre-set. You'd have to inquire with them.

But circling back to why? The original premise that 240V charging is bad for the car is not true - there's no reason to limit the charging unless you have issues with the size of the available circuit and can only do the smallest available by code: 15A circuit (=max 12A charging)
Furthermore, with the little difference between 120V and 240V on a volt, there really isn't much reason to be reducing an already low 240V rate.
240V @ 6A = 120V @ 12A, which can be done from a standard outlet.
You're losing all benefit of 240V by reducing it - just use regular 120V and skip L2 altogether.