[Ladogaboy]

Preconditioning on DCFC might be very easy and low impact on the Bolt EV.

We'll want to verify this further, but so far, if the amount of power the charger is able to provide exceeds the power the Bolt EV can accept, it looks like you can redirect that excess toward the climate control settings. Under these conditions, the climate control draw was about 6 kW, and turning it on after the charge rate had throttled down had no affect on the Bolt EV's charging rate.

If true, this means that Bolt EV owners in colder climates can use the excess power from fast charging stations to precondition their Bolt EVs before they leave and without affecting the total charge time.

 

[Chris TX]

Preconditioning on DCFC might be very easy and low impact on the Bolt EV.

We'll want to verify this further, but so far, if the amount of power the charger is able to provide exceeds the power the Bolt EV can accept, it looks like you can redirect that excess toward the climate control settings. Under these conditions, the climate control draw was about 6 kW, and turning it on after the charge rate had throttled down had no affect on the Bolt EV's charging rate.

If true, this means that Bolt EV owners in colder climates can use the excess power from fast charging stations to precondition their Bolt EVs before they leave and without affecting the total charge time.

So you're saying people with CCS chargers at home will benefit from pre-conditioning?

I wonder if the handful of people that have them are here on the forums.

 

[Ladogaboy]

So you're saying people with CCS chargers at home will benefit from pre-conditioning?

I wonder if the handful of people that have them are here on the forums.

I don't know if it is of great benefit for home charging; I'm not trying to make a value judgment on that. However, for road trips in colder weather, being able to precondition without adding any extra time to your trip (charge time) seems very valuable.

 

[Chris TX]

Well, it does make sense that the call for more DC power from the DC-DC converter which powers the HVAC would pull from the incoming DCFC power, as it's on the same conductors, while it's charging. I don't see how it could pull from the battery without pulling from the DCFC as the contactors are closed. My Tesla does the same thing when Supercharging. I'm not sure I would call it "pre-conditioning" if you're just using the power while in the middle of a road trip. Now, if you took a cold-soaked Bolt EV from your house, with a somewhat depleted battery straight over to a CCS charger, that could be considered "pre-conditioning" I guess.

 

[Ladogaboy]

It typically requires about one hour to charge to 80% SOC, which is a long time to sit in cold weather. Even at ~ 40 F, the Bolt interior was cold and fogged up after just 30 minutes of sitting. I'm sure it would cool down even faster in sub-freezing temperatures.

 

[Dakster]

It typically requires about one hour to charge to 80% SOC, which is a long time to sit in cold weather. Even at ~ 40 F, the Bolt interior was cold and fogged up after just 30 minutes of sitting. I'm sure it would cool down even faster in sub-freezing temperatures.

Kinda wish there was a home DCFC, but not too many homes have 3-phase 480v... So being able to precondition would be great and part of the global solution to EV usage... NOT including windchill, it Hit -74F last week in places, warmer in town at -53F - I don't care who you are, that's cold. At one point, maybe the Bolt will go to dual L2 chargers.

 

[Ladogaboy]

Kinda wish there was a home DCFC, but not too many homes have 3-phase 480v... So being able to precondition would be great and part of the global solution to EV usage... NOT including windchill, it Hit -74F last week in places, warmer in town at -53F - I don't care who you are, that's cold. At one point, maybe the Bolt will go to dual L2 chargers.

Well, the reason I don't think it is necessary for home use is that the Bolt EV will charge at 7.2 kW off of standard level two charging. The maximum draw I've seen from the Bolt EV's climate control is 6 kW. Now, even if it jumps up to 7 kW, you should be able to precondition at home with your standard L2 charger.

I don't know how many long trips you take in AK during those extreme cold temperatures, but I think DCFC for public solutions up there should be a given.

 

[somms]

Kinda wish there was a home DCFC, but not too many homes have 3-phase 480v...

20 kW CHAdeMO Portable Fast Charger

Since there already is avail 240VAC home install for the CHAdeMO DC Fast Charger type I'm sure it is only a matter of time until a similar type compatible with the Chevy Bolt arrives! Damn pricey sucker though!

 

[Ladogaboy]

I don't even want to know...

That would take more power on a dedicated circuit than my entire house uses... and that's just 20 kW.

 

[somms]

I don't even want to know...

That would take more power on a dedicated circuit than my entire house uses... and that's just 20 kW.

That EVTV website states the unit draws as much as 80A at 240VAC...

20KW CCS CHAdeMO Portable Charger

FWIW: It appears the Chinese manufacturer responsible for producing that CHAdeMO for sale over at EVTV actually does list an CCS EV standard version that should be compatible with the Bolt & Spark EVs at the link above!

 

[Rampage_Rick]

Kinda wish there was a home DCFC, but not too many homes have 3-phase 480v...

Well the 25kW DCFC spec'd for dealers does offer a 240V single-phase option, but with a 138 amp draw you'd probably need a 300-400 amp residential service. Also, being only 25kW it's probable that there wouldn't be any "excess" available for preconditioning without impacting charge times.

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?268617-DCFC-Charging-for-Bolt-EV-dealers

 

[somms]

Well the 25kW DCFC spec'd for dealers does offer a 240V single-phase option, but with a 138 amp draw you'd probably need a 300-400 amp residential service.

10KW CCS Combo Portable Charger

Same Chinese outfit also has a relatively tiny 10kW CCS charger you could carry around sorta like an EVSE!
Don't think there would be much if any benefit for this over the 7.2 kW onboard charger the Chevy Bolt already has though...

FWIW: Looks like you could pick-up one of these portable 10kW CCS EVSE via https://wholesaler.alibaba.com/product-detail/small-and-light-portable-DC-EV_60590069855.html