Charge taking forever! 16+ hours for one charge!

[ClarksonCote]

No kidding. It's THAT simple. Wow. Thanks....I get the idiot award of the day. I guess there's a switch on the charger?

No,, not a dumb question at all. This is a new "problem" that people will encounter on 2013's. Perhaps the moderators should make this a sticky thread. The 2013's are the first to default to the slower charge rate, and also the first model year that doesn't have that setting on the charge cord.

The setting has to be changed through the center console's charge screen. The kicker is that, to help protect against faulty wiring at various locations, this setting defaults to 8 amps each time you start the car. So each night, you'll need to go press the 12 amps button in that screen. Maybe they'll change that one day, but for now it's the norm on the 2013's

Alternatively, you could buy a 240V charger that will charge the Volt in about 4 hours. They go for $400 and up.

[saghost]

WOT, will the 2012 cord set work on a 2013 and default to 12 amps?

Thanks
MrEnergyCzar

My bet is the cord will work (J1772 compatibility) - but the car will charge at 8 amps regardless of the cord setting unless changed on the center console. The standard gives the cord a way to pass the maximum amperage the car is allowed to draw, but there's nothing to force the car to comply - if the car chooses to charge at a lower rate, it can.

[Mike-o-Matic]

Yep - my delivery was pretty much: "Here's the keys."

For a car as advanced as the Volt, that's unconscionable! Your salesman should be taken out 'backa the woodshed.

Thank you guys for being my manual.

Welcome to the forum, I think you'll find nearly all here are a friendly bunch!

[Neromanceres]

My bet is the cord will work (J1772 compatibility) - but the car will charge at 8 amps regardless of the cord setting unless changed on the center console. The standard gives the cord a way to pass the maximum amperage the car is allowed to draw, but there's nothing to force the car to comply - if the car chooses to charge at a lower rate, it can.

I think your right.

I think the 2012 EVSE cord is only able to tell the car that 12A or 8A are available. But the cars charger (in the car) needs to be set to accept 12A or 8A in the 2013's.

People need to remember that the charger is in the car. Not in the EVSE cord.

[Cord]

Will the 2013 Volt do 6 amps as we have been told the 2011 and 2012 will do with the correct pilot pulse.

[saghost]

Will the 2013 Volt do 6 amps as we have been told the 2011 and 2012 will do with the correct pilot pulse.

If its going to comply with J1772, it has to - that pulse is the source telling the car what's available and the standard requires the charger respect that. Unless I'm totally confused...

[JeremyK]

I've got a 2011 Volt and have had the charge cord "upgraded" shortly after I purchased the car earlier this year. The new charge cord does not seem to have a switch to change to 8A charge rate...and don't remember seeing the option in the charging menu. Did I just miss this or do I not have the option to charge at 8A anymore?

[JeremyK]

When you use the "upgraded" charge cord are you getting a full charge in 10 hours or 16 hours ?

Yeah, full charge in under 10 hours, so no complaints there. Just curious if I can change to 8A if needed. I've got a Level II charger installed so I really don't think about the 120V charger much.

Just considered switching to 8A a few weekends ago when I plugged into a "shady" outlet at a hotel, but realized I couldn't find the switch on the charge cord reel. It was dark and I could have missed it, but I'm 99% sure I don't have a switch on my new charge cord.

[tboult]

I've got a 2011 Volt and have had the charge cord "upgraded" shortly after I purchased the car earlier this year. The new charge cord does not seem to have a switch to change to 8A charge rate...and don't remember seeing the option in the charging menu. Did I just miss this or do I not have the option to charge at 8A anymore?

Its not a normal looking switch, its a black soft button in the front. If its not plugged into the car, you push it and it will go from 4 green lights to two (telling its in 8amp mode).