How Will You Charge Your Volt?

[Altazi]

At some point in the moderately near future, the Chevy Volt is going to be available for sale. Assuming you buy a Volt, you will need to charge the vehicle somehow. Be honest!

[kingofl337]

110 in the driveway

[MuddyRoverRob]

220 in the garage.

[Mike-o-Matic]

I do already have 220VAC in the garage, but truth is, I don't want to give up my existing 220 table saw and other tools. So, I will probably add a second master breaker in the house, and subpanel in the garage, for charging the Volt.

No big deal.... Hundred bucks in parts, and afternoon project if you know what you're doing.

[dbK]

I do already have 220VAC in the garage, but truth is, I don't want to give up my existing 220 table saw and other tools. So, I will probably add a second master breaker in the house, and subpanel in the garage, for charging the Volt.

No big deal.... Hundred bucks in parts, and afternoon project if you know what you're doing.

And a fire/electrocution if you don't!

[prowler]

If you don't already have 240V available, is the cost and effort to provide 240v necessary?

Here's my point of reference:

Tesla can charge from 120V at 4 to 6 miles per hour of charge (15A or 20A circuit, 12A or 16A actual at 80% load). For the 40 mile electric only range of the Volt, this is (at worst) an overnight charge of 10 hours.

Do we know the charging rates for the Volt? With the gasoline backup, is there really a practical need for 240V? (consider cost of circuit installation vs. the occasional savings when you don't have 10-hours available overnight).

-SPARKZZ

[Mike-o-Matic]

And a fire/electrocution if you don't!

True enough! Let's hope people have the wisdom to know when to hire an electrician.

[swimdad623]

110V/15A in the garage.

Even if I run the battery down to the minimum, it should only take about 5 hours to fill the battery. And, if I need the car before 5 hours are up, at worst the ICE will kick in and add some charge.

Just a question to those planning a 240V charger in the garage - do they make 240V/30A GFIs (ground fault interrupters)? Personally, there's no way that I'm going to plug a snow-covered road-salted car into a non-protected AC outlet. It's not worth risking electrocution to save a few hours on a charge.

[RobertSullivan]

Question I have is: will the battery have a longer lifespan if charged slower at 110V?

[DaV8or]

I will charge 240v in the garage. Simple. It's not there now, but getting it there is a weekend of work and less than $100.