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LEARN TO CHARGE YOUR EV AT A PUBLIC CHARGING STATION

Public charging stations are a convenient way to charge your vehicle’s battery while you’re away from home. The process of using a public charger on your electric vehicle is similar to fueling up at the gas pump with a gas-powered vehicle.

 

Depending on the station, public chargers offer Level 2 or DC Fast Charging† to provide power to your vehicle. Level 2 charging is ideal for charging your vehicle’s battery over the span of a few hours, whereas DC Fast Charging’s high power and rapid speed makes it easy to quickly add miles of range to your vehicle within minutes. The performance of DC Fast Charging is fastest in moderate temperatures and when the battery state of charge is lower. Note: Capping your battery’s charge at 80% helps promote battery health and optimal regenerative braking performance for daily use.

 

You can find a public charging station in the area or along your route using your vehicle’s mobile app† or your vehicle’s available Google built-in† navigation system (if equipped).

HOW TO CHARGE YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE ON THE GO

At a public charging station, you’ll simply plug the charge cord into your vehicle and follow the instructions on the charging station, or the charging station app, to begin charging. Once you’ve located a public charging station:

Note: If using a supported network’s NACS charging station, use your vehicle’s mobile app on your phone or the Charging app on your vehicle’s center screen to initiate charging. See Charging with Supported Networks for details. 

1. Park the vehicle and locate any instructions on the charging station or in the charging station’s app.

a. Follow all instructions and warnings before attempting charging.

2. Locate the charging port on the outside of the vehicle on the driver’s side below the outside rearview mirror or behind the rear wheel well.

a. Press the charge port door until you hear a click and it will release to open.

b. If your vehicle has a motorized charge port door, press the emblem or indicator located on the door to open the charge port. The door will automatically open and a ring light around the charging receptacle will illuminate.

3. If using DC Fast Charging, remove the dust cover on the charge port.

4. Plug the charging station’s cord into the vehicle’s charge port.

5. Follow the steps on the charging station or the charging station’s mobile app to start charging. 

UNDERSTANDING CHARGE INDICATOR LIGHTS

A light on your instrument panel, visible from outside the vehicle, will illuminate to help you monitor the charging process:

  • Solid blue: The vehicle has connected to the charger but hasn’t started charging. 
  • Flashing blue: Your vehicle has been set to delayed charging and will begin charging at a later time based on your charging settings.

Note: Check the “Charge Later” or “Home Schedule” sections of the Charging App to figure out if you have delayed charging turned on.

  • Flashing green: Your vehicle has begun to charge. The length of the blinks will increase as your vehicle charges up – shorter blinks indicate a lower state of charge and longer blinks indicate a higher state of charge.
  • Solid green: Charging is complete. 
  • Single red flash: There is a charging error with the vehicle or charging station.
  • No light: The vehicle isn’t plugged in or there is an issue with the charging process. Check your charging cable connection and refer to your Owner’s Manual for details. 

CHARGING WITH SUPPORTED NETWORKS

Charging with a supported network’s charging station requires an accessory North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter, and you must arrange charge time and billing details using your vehicle’s mobile app.

 

To use a supported network’s NACS charging station: 

  1. Purchase the appropriate North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter through your vehicle’s mobile app and have it shipped to your home or a local dealership. 
  2. Navigate to “Public Charging” from the homepage of your vehicle’s mobile app. 
  3. Select the blue Activate link next to your desired network. 
  4. Follow the prompts in the mobile app to select a charging plan and put a payment method on file. 
  5. Locate a supported charging station using your mobile app.
    Note: Some NACS stations may not be compatible with GM EVs or adapters. 
  6. Open the charge port door and remove the dust cover on the charge port. 
  7. Plug the charging station’s cord into the NACS DC charging adapter and into the vehicle’s charge port.
  8. Follow the steps on your vehicle’s mobile app to start charging. 

HOW TO COMPLETE THE CHARGING PROCESS
When the vehicle has reached your desired charge level, it will automatically stop charging and the plug will be unlocked. You can also manually stop charging using the controls at the charging station or by tapping “Stop” in the Charging page on your center display. If you’re using DC Fast Charging, you can also stop charging via the charging station’s app on your smartphone. To complete the charging process:
  1. Unplug the charge cord from the vehicle and replace the dust cover inside the charge port if using DC Fast Charging.
  2. Close the charge port door and press it until you hear a click.
  3. If you leave your charge port door open and open the driver door, you’ll hear three beeps to remind you to close it.
  4. If the vehicle has a motorized charge port door, close it by pressing the black. rectangular button to the left of the charge port. Select vehicles will automatically close the charge port door if you forget to close it before shifting the vehicle into DRIVE.

The charge plug will be locked and cannot be disconnected while charging is active. The Charging Status Indicator on your vehicle will light up when charging begins, and you may hear a chirp. Charging will continue until you stop the process or until the vehicle reaches your desired charge level. 

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Q&As

WHY DOES CHARGING START SLOWING DOWN THE LONGER I’M AT THE PUBLIC CHARGING STATION?

To provide optimal charging rates and to maximize performance and battery life, the rate of charging will start slowing down as your battery fills up, with significant reduction in charge rate around 80%. Charging your battery to 80% for daily use helps promote battery health and optimal regenerative braking performance. For longer trips, you can adjust your charge above 80% for extended range. Some charging locations may accommodate multiple vehicles and dynamically adjust your charging power up or down to balance power to all connected vehicles. Customers should see their Owner’s Manual for more information.

DOES MY BATTERY HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY EMPTY BEFORE I USE A PUBLIC CHARGING STATION?

No. You can charge your battery from any level, even just to “top off” the battery for your drive. However, the battery will charge slower when it is near the top of its charge.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHARGING CABLE WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE CHARGE PORT?

If the charging cable will not release from the vehicle: 

1. First, ensure your vehicle has stopped charging. 

a. This can be done on the charging station’s screen, your vehicle’s center display or your mobile app.

2. If charging has been stopped, but the charging cable still will not release, open your vehicle’s hood to locate the secondary release cord.

a. Pull the secondary release cord to release the charging cable from your vehicle’s charge port.

HOW SHOULD I PRECONDITION MY VEHICLE’S BATTERY FOR OPTIMAL DC FAST CHARGING?

Start DC Fast Charging battery conditioning to precondition your battery when you are on your way to a public DC Fast Charging station, approximately 30 minutes before you plan to begin charging. This will help bring the battery to an optimal temperature for improved charging performance. If you are using the built-in Google maps feature and set your destination to a DC Fast Charger, preconditioning will begin automatically at the correct time.

IS THE FLASHING RED LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD THE CHARGING STATUS INDICATOR OR THE THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT?

Your GM EV’s Charging Status Indicator light shares the same display location with the theft deterrent light located on the top/center of the instrument panel. The theft deterrent light flashes red when your vehicle is off and unplugged, but if the light flashes red while the vehicle is connected for charging, this is an indication of a charging error. 

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To find out if your vehicle has this feature, contact your dealer or refer to your vehicle’s equipment list. Please check your Owner’s Manual for more information about features.