A Suggestion.. Add charging stations to all GM dealers

[Guitarbare]

I can't seem to find this idea anywhere. Why can't GM add Level 2 charging stations to every single dealer for free public use. Think about it, it makes total sense. It's great PR and finally would give some folks like me way out in the boonies at least one place to plug in. When I picked my Volt up at the dealer it was depleted battery wise. It would also eliminate that issue as well.. Maybe if we ask with a please? I know Just about every Nissan Dealer has one because of the Leaf.. Why Not GM ? You believe in your vehicle as much as me just do it...! Larry

[RedneckRoyalty]

i can't believe they don't do this. Maybe not "free" but reasonably priced....If you plan your trips around available charging stations, you will find them at Nissan dealerhips all over the place. Very very few at Chevrolet...

[BAZINGA]

My dealer has at least three that I'm aware of:

One in the Service Dept

One in the new car delivery area inside the showrom

One outside under a covered area where they display new cars

They offer to allow Volt owners to hook up while they are at the dealership. I've only needed to return once since I bought my Volt for them to install a small piece of trim near the base of the windshield that wouldn't stay put, and even though I was in and out in 15 minutes they kept asking me if I wanted to plug in. I was in a hurry and declined their offer, I usually hang around and chat with the guys in the service area who know me from my Corvette days.

But I don't know if it's open to the "public" though.

BTW that dealer is Jack Schmitt Chevrolet in O' Fallon IL near Scott AFB

[mczajka]

I communicated with a recent Leaf owner who tried to charge at a Nissan dealer in Woodbridge VA, yesterday. They told him he couldn't charge there because he was not a customer. And they wanted to charge him about $8. So, while this all sounds like a good idea, it will be dependent on the dealer who can and can't charge there.

I saw a presentation last week about energy tracking solar power units with EVSE's attached to them. It certainly would be a bold statement if a dealer put a few of these in.

http://www.atrsolartech.com/carcharging.php

[jackphillips]

Yes have at Dealers and advertise on some of websites that show charging stations. Also they should show up on our nav system.

[Guitarbare]

Have you ever taken you volt to a Nissan dealer to charge? I would assume they Take a dim view if this since its not their car..

[Guitarbare]

I could sorta understand that kind of response if I pulled in with my Volt into a Nissan dealer, but someone who owns a Leaf being treated like that? It's totally counter productive to Leaf sales...Gezzz ... My suggestion would bring a lot of business to all the GM dealers and show us they support us back.. It would cost them very little in electric.. For all the positive PR they would get.. For A lot less than the cost of one GM national commercial ...you could fund free electric charging at dealers to any volt owner for an entire year. Imagine all the all the possible sales they could make in the parts dept and of other Chevy vehicles. It's a no brainier

[mczajka]

Again, I believe this is a case by case issue at Nissan dealers. I was there one time with a Volt I had on loan for 1 week, picking up a friend who was dropping off his Maxima for service. I was able to charge for about 45 min. before he got there at 6:20 AM. If nobody is there, then you are not going to have a problem. You might have an issue with a service person coming in early. I don't believe they disable these units at night, although I could be wrong.

[gadgeTT]

The Chevy dealer that I went to for 2nd test drive, which is also the same dealer from which I ordered my 2013, has at least one 240V charger. I don't know yet if it's available for customer use or just to charge up their on-lot or in-service Volts. What I was surprised about, though, is that I made an appointment with nearly a week's notice to come for a Volt test drive, and they didn't bother to charge it up before I got there. The salesman got in to move the Volt out of the display spot and into the parking lot before I was allowed to get in, and I noticed the sound of the ICE coming on when he drove off. I asked about it and the car had 0 charge. I told him that I came to test drive the Volt as an EV and we consequently had to wait around for about 30 minute while at least a little charge was put in the battery. It actually worked out, though, as I was able to drive around on battery for a few miles and then experience when the ICE kicked in. Overall, I enjoyed the vehicle enough to drop down a deposit and order one, but the dealer really should have ensured that the car was charged. IMHO, not much different than having a test drive gas car empty and having to stop (on the test drive) at the gas station to be able to go on the test drive.

Anyway, can't wait as this week is my TPW, so the clock is now officially ticking until delivery :-)

[DonC]

Nissan dealers are hit or miss. They do have 240v chargers but they do use them so they may not be available. Plus many don't want non-customers to use them.

On the other hand, where I am there are now plenty of chargers available. You can probably find one without too much trouble if you plan ahead just a little bit. The bigger issue is that it still takes an hour of charging for 10 miles of range. That'a a lot of time for not many miles.