Can A Chevy Volt Use A Tesla Supercharger?
The hybrid Chevrolet Volt is a great choice of car if you want the environmentally friendly benefits of the electric-powered elements of the car which also offer a quieter driving experience, but you still like the peace of mind that there is fuel in the tank if you happen to run out of electricity.
The Chevy Volt electric battery will run you around for 30 to 50 miles depending on the weather and other factors and then once the electric battery runs out it’ll automatically switch to the fuel tank to power the vehicle.
This is different from other hybrids, as others normally simultaneously use the fuel tank and the electric battery to power the car to reduce fuel consumption.
If you’re someone who likes to minimize the use of the gas fuel tank in your Chevy Volt and likes to keep your electric battery fully charged then you’ll be familiar with the surrounding charging stations in your area.
However, what if you get to one and all your usual charging points are in use and there is only a Tesla supercharger station left, can you use that?
We’ll be revealing whether a Chevy Volt can use a Tesla supercharger and what other chargers are suitable for your vehicle.
We’d also just like to clarify that all the information below refers to North American EV charging and there may be several differences or standards for EV vehicles elsewhere in the world.
Can I Use A Tesla Supercharger For My Chevy Volt?
No, unfortunately at this moment you cannot charge your chevy volt with a Tesla Supercharger.
This is because they use a proprietary connector that authenticates the charger to the vehicle when it recognizes that it is a Tesla model. However, when the car is any other EV vehicle then it will not begin charging.
Tesla Superchargers are fast DC chargers whereas the Chevy Volt only accepts AC charging, so it just won’t fit and it won’t work at all, even though the supercharger is fitted with the same type 2 plug that is compatible with other manufacturers EVs.
However, you will be able to charge your Chevy Volt and other brands of EVs with Tesla’s destination chargers which you can find in many public places. These destinations will take hours of charging though and sometimes even longer due to the adapter needed.
To be able to charge your Chevy Volt or other models of EVs with the Tesla destination charger, you’ll need to get a J-1772 charging adapter. The adapter is compatible with the high-powered connector, destination charger, and mobile connector.
If you used to previously have a Tesla and now you’ve bought a Chevy Volt but you don’t want to fork out for a new suitable charging station for your home, then you’ll be able to use this J-1772 charging adapter to charge your vehicle from the wall connector.
The two best brands for these J-1772 charging adapters are Lectron and TeslaTap, both of which are readily available on Amazon or Home Depot. They come available in different volts and amps, so you can choose which one you need based on your vehicle.
If you hate all the cords, then we’d recommend getting the MINI version from TeslaTap which is a much more compact adapter.
Sometimes these Tesla destination chargers are located on private property though, so you may want to ask for permission somewhere before you begin plugging your EV in and charging it up.
What Charging Stations Can I Use For My Chevy Volt?
The Chevy Volt’s inability to be compatible with fast charging stations is not an issue, especially because it’s a hybrid model and you can still rely on the gas-powered engine if you do happen to run out of charge.
As we said above, you can use a Tesla destination charging station with a J-1772 adapter to charge your Chevy Volt.
With the Chevy Volt, you charge it the same as you would a cellphone or laptop, by plugging it into an outlet inside or outside your home. You’ll just need the cord that comes with the Volt to plug into your outlet.
We’d recommend getting a charging station built into your home, especially if you are looking to upgrade to a full EV in the future. This will enable you to charge your EV from home during the night when electricity is cheaper, it’ll also prevent you from wasting battery driving to and from a driving station.
Buying a level 2 charging unit or going to one in public is most recommended as it’ll add 12 miles per hour of charging to your Chevy Volt, in comparison to plugging your hybrid into your regular outlet which will only add 4 miles of range per hour of charging which can take up to 12 hours to fully charge back up.
Whereas a level 2 charging unit will allow you to regain full charge within less than 5 hours.
Final Thoughts
The fact that Tesla Superchargers are only being of use to Tesla owners may be due to change, as a tweet from Tesla CEO Elon Musk suggested that changes and plans are being put into action to allow non-Tesla EV owners to charge their vehicles using the Tesla Superchargers.
He did say, however, that other companies would have to be willing to come on board with him to cover the installation costs of these Superchargers.
However, whether your vehicle is compatible with this charger will depend on if it supports rapid charging technology.
As EV technology grows and progresses, more cars will be compatible with rapid charging technology so soon enough you shouldn’t have to worry about whether yours is compatible or not.