Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this video I explore how possible it is to recharge my Chevy Volt using "MadMax method",
This is openning possibility of solar charging and backup emergency charging directly without any added AC conversion.
What's the point? Here is the answer: In case of Extreme situations, exemple during long power outage, where gas station just wont work because they also need electricity to make the pump work! or at the chalet with solar power or any other extreme situation where there is NO AC availlable. DC power is easier to find than AC that's it. Battery can be found everywhere and stacking them to get enough voltage can work to recharge your Volt, Even 2 stack of ebike battery in serie! in other words, In emergency situation, Any stack of serie battery starting at 95Vdc can recharge your volt... no inverter needed. Also 1kW+ continuous Ac inverter can be expensive and the volt can get trouble with poor quality sinewave...
The internal 3.3kW charger normally work on L1 and L2 AC charge stations, however the internal PWM circuit seem to be more open to DC power than we think !!
In details it is important to know that this cahrger need minimum power to operate and that this power is dependent of the Voltage. If the DC source is not capable supplying the requested current from the Volt charger it wont work. Also, since the Chevy Volt 3.3kW charger have some internal protections, it will naturally trigger a code, indicating problem with the measured charging power. This is normal and it can be errased.
Be aware that attempting this is only reserved for experienced people with skill in electronic and that the DC voltages used can be risky (above 48Vdc).
In this video I explore how possible it is to recharge my Chevy Volt using "MadMax method",
This is openning possibility of solar charging and backup emergency charging directly without any added AC conversion.
What's the point? Here is the answer: In case of Extreme situations, exemple during long power outage, where gas station just wont work because they also need electricity to make the pump work! or at the chalet with solar power or any other extreme situation where there is NO AC availlable. DC power is easier to find than AC that's it. Battery can be found everywhere and stacking them to get enough voltage can work to recharge your Volt, Even 2 stack of ebike battery in serie! in other words, In emergency situation, Any stack of serie battery starting at 95Vdc can recharge your volt... no inverter needed. Also 1kW+ continuous Ac inverter can be expensive and the volt can get trouble with poor quality sinewave...
The internal 3.3kW charger normally work on L1 and L2 AC charge stations, however the internal PWM circuit seem to be more open to DC power than we think !!
In details it is important to know that this cahrger need minimum power to operate and that this power is dependent of the Voltage. If the DC source is not capable supplying the requested current from the Volt charger it wont work. Also, since the Chevy Volt 3.3kW charger have some internal protections, it will naturally trigger a code, indicating problem with the measured charging power. This is normal and it can be errased.
Be aware that attempting this is only reserved for experienced people with skill in electronic and that the DC voltages used can be risky (above 48Vdc).
