2022-11-21 | New Roads Magazine
Taking charge
At home, at work, around town, or out on the open road, Chevrolet is committed to making electric ownership make sense — for everyone. That starts with making range anxiety a thing of the past.
The first step in making electric vehicles for everyone is making the vehicles. The next is to make owning an electric easy. “We want to take away any anxieties associated with electric vehicle charging and how the customer experiences them,” says Dalya Aboona, global electric vehicle ecosystem and charging experience assistant manager at GM.
The answer? Easy access to Level 2 home charging, plus the GM Energy charging ecosystem that integrates charging networks, the
GM PowerUp
A Level 2 home charger sold directly by GM and your Chevrolet EV dealer, with base and premium models for different charging needs.
Home charging
Karla Fausto had her 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV for more than a year before she decided to upgrade to a Level 2 home charger. “On the days I drive the most, I drive 60 miles total, so Level 1 charging met my needs,” she says. “It wasn’t a problem for us to string out a cord and have my car plugged in.”
Fausto, a Philadelphia-area nurse, does the bulk of her charging at home. However, after driving her Bolt EV, her fiancé decided he wanted to get an electric vehicle as well. With two electrics, simply plugging into the standard wall outlet wouldn’t be a practical solution.
An active social media group for Bolt EV owners helped Fausto settle on a Level 2 charger.
The next step was understanding what it took to install the hardware. There, the forums were less helpful. “There’s a lot of people who will give you electrical engineer–level knowledge, and then a lot that say, ‘All I know is my car drinks electrons,’” she jokes.
As Fausto’s story suggests, navigating a relatively new technology can be difficult. Chevrolet and General Motors knew they needed to simplify the home charging process, including installation.
Manage your electric lifestyle
The available
First, eligible customers who purchase or lease a 2022 or 2023 Bolt EV or Bolt EUV can get standard installation of a 240-volt Level 2 charging outlet, installed by
If you have purchased a 2022 or 2023 Bolt EV or EUV and it simply isn’t possible to install a charger where you live, Chevrolet will provide a $500
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It takes two seconds to plug it into the wall. Then you go to sleep, and it's charged when you wake up.
Karla Fausto
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To answer questions before, during, or after a purchase, Chevrolet has added new online resources. “Customers can visit Energy LIVE or reach out to our EV concierge team to have all of their questions answered about home installation,” says Patten.
Now that Fausto has had a charger installed in her garage, she loves the convenience of Level 2 home charging. “It takes two seconds to plug it into the wall,” she says. “Then you go to sleep, and it’s charged when you wake up.”
Public charging, near or far
When you need gas, you get gas. Typically, you don’t think about where the next station is. Between stops, you hope for as much efficiency as you can get, but it probably isn’t something you worry about. Dalya Aboona gets that. “My background is mechanical engineering,” she says. “I spent a lot of time working on engines and fuel economy.”
Dalya Aboona
Global EV Ecosystem & Charging Experience Assistant Manager
Aboona and her team look at the big picture related to removing anxiety about charging, focusing on home, workplace, and public spaces.
Today, Aboona is General Motors’ global electric vehicle ecosystem and charging experience assistant manager, where she is part of a dedicated team of over 45 people laser-focused on making electric vehicle ownership an anxiety-free experience — whether you’re at work, at home, or on the road. Primarily that means focusing on charging, and especially public charging.
The team’s experience suggests the breadth of possibilities as charging infrastructure expands. “We’ve got a diverse team comprised of business, finance, engineers, marketing, and public policy, all working together to craft the best solution,” Aboona says.
In many cases, they’re starting where there’s nothing to work with. “It’s like an empty piece of land,” she says. “First the foundation is poured, then the structure, and by the end it’s a functional house.”
Suddenly, workplaces are installing chargers and networks are being built, which has opened up access to more than 195,000 chargers — and mobile apps make everything make sense.
“We want to make the process seamless for car owners,” Aboona says. “Do you think about how you’re going to charge your cellphone? No, you just plug it in and it takes care of itself.”
Plug it in
GM Energy would not be an ecosystem if it only covered your garage. Public charging — when you need it, where you need it — is just as important. And the goal is to make plugging in simple and finding where to plug in easy — whether you are driving around town or traveling across the country. Tap the arrows or swipe to see some of the ways Chevy is working toward that goal.
Plug and charge with EVgo
With Plug and Charge, customers can just plug in their vehicle at EVgo public fast-charging stations; the rest takes care of itself. It’s available to owners with an active EVgo account, OnStar® Connected Services, and the
Travel center charging stations
GM is working with Pilot and Flying J to expand coast-to-coast public DC Fast Charging access. The network will count 2,000 charging stalls at up to 500 travel centers.
Dealers charging the community
General Motors dealers are working with local community partners to help install up to 40,000 Level 2 public chargers throughout the U.S. and Canada, increasing access in previously underserved areas.
Story: Ryan White, Colin Beresford, Sharon Silke Carty, and Brett Berk / Charger and portrait: Jeny Risher
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