(Part 2) Best products from r/volt

I'll try to answer these as best as I can.

1. I can't really recommend anything for the Volt since I haven't had to put any issues with lumbar support in it, but for another car I had issues with I decided to use my Purple seat cushion. I would presume anything that is much cheaper could work though.
   
2. It depends on how much extra driving you might do during the day. Aside from work, do you need pick up kids from sports/go out to eat for dinner/go to a friends house across town? If you want to use the battery as much as possible then a 240v charger might be perfect since you can get a quick charge before running extra errands. With the 2018 you can also add something like this which will allow you to plug in to a 240v using your stock EVSE.
   
3. We're actually in the process of this now! The company I work for has several people who drive PHEVs and BEVs so we have been suggesting for a long time that they should install EV chargers onsite rather than having all of us clamor over a few 120v outlets. Since we are building a new building on our campus they decided to include 8 EV chargers in the parking garage free to use. I definitely think that more voices would be more incentive for your company to install a few chargers. This is all still a fairly new technology so getting others informed is the best way to go!

Okay so here is the part thats included

Its kinda pricey. Its a pretty beefy compressor and it has a replaceable fix-a-flat style sealant canister.

Now you can get a beefier, similarly sized compressor for less money, like this one but thats going to actually be more than you need. Ive seen a few complaints from that brand that if you are over ~80 psi they will pop the fuse in your car, rather than the one in the compressor (which can take a pretty hefty amperage.)

Cheaper still, something like what I was using before I bought my volt would be a small hand held affair This isnt the exact model I had but its similar, and a comparable price. This is going to be slow to inflate your tire, but the benefit is it takes up virtually no space at all.

This is actually the sort of thing I would recommend. Its medium sized, reasonably powerful but not a monster, and it has a built in flashlight (which is SO helpful.)

A decent compressor can be got from walmart for $20, but if you want to spend more there are a ton of good options of all shapes and sizes and at any price point you can imagine.

Last but not least, if you dont get the GM one, you should include a can of fix-a-flat in any car, whether you have a spare or not.

PS a good alternative to the GM one might be the fix-a-flat brand compressor which also has a canister, and is a good price.

The first mount I ever liked was the iOttie Easy One Touch XL:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007FH716W

When they came out with the iOttie HLCRIO132 Easy One Touch Wireless Qi Standard Car Mount Charger
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UXS7958
I jumped at it, and haven't looked back since! I love not having to fiddle around with the cable every time I want to charge the phone.

Here are a few pics since you requested:
How it looks from where I sit,
http://imgur.com/nKMUWDv
still under the line of the dashboard and windshield, from where I sit, does not block any visibility through windshield.

This is what I mean about the top surface above the screen, the cups from the Iotties fit perfectly:
http://imgur.com/vccg3du

Let me know if you need any more pics.

I got a Dryer Buddy Plus Auto from here, which plugs into the dryer outlet and splits it, with a sensor to automatically shut of current to the EV port whenever the dryer starts. I/my wife are occasionally absent minded, so having an automatic switch-off seemed well worth the extra expense.

I also go this beefy 25' extension cord, to run from the Dryer Buddy to the garage, and this Zencar 240v/16A charger. (I originally started with a hack that turns the EOM charger into a level 2 charger, but I wanted to be able to keep that guy in the car, and the Zencar is a little faster and has a slightly longer cable (important cuz I actually park outside the garage).

Biggest issue was running the extension cord. The head is a beast, and the cable quite thick. We had to cut a hole in the basement stairs, and cut a small notch out of the door to the garage. It's all sealed up tight now, though, and everything works beautifully. Been using it for ~8 months now, I think.

Sounds like you're handier than I am, so if you're comfortable doing the wiring and confident about the ratings of the pieces involved, then... yeah, should work.

I recently purchased this one on amazon.com. It was listed for $184 at that time but I got it for $114 by accepting an amazon credit card with the purchase. It's an unbranded Duosida and can operate both as a level 1 and a level 2 with 16A current rating. It's also portable so you can take it on road trips. Works great, waterproof, well-built and I highly recommend it.

I had a very similar setup, a 2016 volt, Curt hitch and swagman rack. It's a good rack for the volt as it rises a bit giving you good clearance. I did have issues with wobbling which I fixed with spacers. It also had some rust/corrosion issues as well after only about a year, and I keep the rack in a garage. After a year I went and got a Saris superclamp which doesn't contact the bike frames, and it has more clearance so I can open the trunk with the bike on it.

Couple suggestions

1. Attach the support strap to the rear hook, as high up as possible, it provides better support, but more importantly the way you have it now whenever the rack shifts you will be rubbing the strap on the trunk lip, causing paint damage. You may be able to get the strap high enough to prevent it from rubbing. Honestly if only one bike and not too heavy just avoid the strap.
   
   
2. The bungee cord is probably unnecessary.
   
   
3. Get a cable lock that goes around the loop of the hitch, and you can lock your bike to. Something like this worked well for me. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00N4GILCG/. Better than nothing but still would avoid parking anywhere risky as cable locks aren't super secure. Consider removing your bike lights and seatpost as it has a quick release and keep them in the trunk.
   
   Looks good, have fun!

It is possible, but you're going to have to drop $300 and put in a good 2-4 hours of work, with some wiring that is not for the faint of heart. The end result is very much worth it IMO, I have an experience that is virtually close to stock. I put the car in reverse and the center screen automatically flips to the reverse camera, which looks just as good or if not better than my previous 2016 charger. Even gives me dynamic steering wheel lines.

I bought this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M8KFHC4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01COZLP2U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Optional: This allows you to mirror your smartphone to the center screen wirelessly. Works fantastically for google maps.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AZC3J3M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did very basic upgrades. To start, I just upgraded the headlights to LED’s, of course it makes it look better and lights up the road more. I bought these on Amazon for about $50 (LASFIT 9012 HIR2 7600LM LED... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRQTP8V?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)

Then I did a mod so the day running lights (DRL’s) will be on when the headlights are on. Basically it keeps the DRL’s on at night too. And during the day I just turn on the headlights cause they look cool. I followed this video here by Just Vlad, (https://youtu.be/9_fFrB4KOYk). Using a 1N5408 Rectifier Diode on eBay.

Then I changed the grill to black by simply using carbon fiber vinyl on most of the trim pieces throughout the car, and the inside as well. I’m sure anything will work, but this is what I have used and has lasted for several months in hot, cold and storms. Just an ebay item, (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F131708477112) I chose 10ft by 5ft and chose 3d. It looked best for the paint on my car. The higher “d’s” makes it more reflective.

And lastly I upgraded those orange turn signal lights to LED switch backs (the most painful part of the upgrade.) Following videos on YouTube and forums gave me the best results. This is the first video I saw that made me want to upgrade, (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7fMm7ZCmxek). I used these LEDs with nothing but replacing the bulbs was done, there is no hyperflash btw. (http://syneticusa.com/Shop/index.php/led-lights/switchback-dual-color/7443-super-bright-switchback-33-led-build-in-load-resistor-version3.html)

And thats pretty much it.

If I'm being honest, the DCFC doesn't bother me as much as having the 3.3kWh charger. I just got a 2017 Volt a few days ago myself (LOVE IT), and it would be really nice to be able to charge at 6.6kWh like most EV cars out there. Juice up that battery a bit faster (< 3 hours by my estimate) and free up more chargers more often. That being said, I see clipper creeks everywhere (live in Nor Cal) and they never seem to be broken. You might consider just having a 240V 20+Amp circuit added if you have a garage and getting the cable. Then if you move you can take that with you super easy.

https://www.amazon.com/ClipperCreek-LCS-20P-Charging-Station-CERTIFIED/dp/B00LKF69O0

In our case, we were able to contain everything inside the car. We had:


The bed, plus the necessary supports (We shoved some stuff into the crates)
Two pillows
Two blankets
A good sized toiletry bag
A bag with 2 pairs of the wife's shoes, a sweater, and two towels
A suitcase as seen in the picture for my clothing, 5 or so of most clothing items fit in mine, plus 5 white undershirts
A backpack for my wife's clothing
2 bags of Jerky from Costco, shoved into the folds of the bed for easy access behind our seats while driving
A bag with sunscreen, bug, and bear spray, and some D&D books/notepads for DM'ing
2 of these chairs from costco. When folded, we put the legs around the front seat headrests and then leaned them onto the dashboard, they kinda served as tables of sorts for stuff.
A screen tent from Amazon so we weren't confined to our car
Our window foam cutouts, and a circular flat folding window screen for the windshield
The OEM charger
An ever growing dirty clothes bag
Two gift bags with shirts, misc items for the return trip.


Had we opted for pretty much anything in addition to the above, it wouldn't have been very pretty. A cooler especially would not have worked out well.


​

The driver and passenger side were completely clear while driving. When we were going to set up the camping:


I parked the car close enough to the outlet, turning off the headlights/off the automatic headlight setting.
Left it turned on, while in Park. (This means it was very annoyingly loud to have the driver side open while packing stuff into it, but what can you do)
Used the zip-tie to keep the shifter button pressed. (Stored the zip-ties in the wireless charging pocket of the center console, I'd recommend at least two zip-ties in case you drop one on the ground like I did on the 2nd night, was a pain to find)
Plugged the car into the outlet. I used the mychevrolet app to confirm if the car was charging, since it charges so slowly.
We then moved both front seats all the way forward, both with the bottom slider and then leaning forward.
Between available rear footwell and front seat/footwell space, we could fit all of the above in the car. We also had space so it was easy to have one person crawl forward and change the AC if needed.

I just got a 12/3 from Amazon. It just arrived, so I was feeling better, but then it's pretty inexpensive compared to what you're saying, so I'm a little concerned again, haha. The reviews seemed good, what do you think?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002HWRS6S/ref=sr_ph_1?qid=1464045585&sr=sr-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=50+foot+12+3+extension+cord

While it's not recommended, there are measures one can take to do it safely. There is the easiest and safest method and that is buying a J1772 female to make extension cord, such as this guy: https://www.amazon.com/EV-Everything-Extension-Electric-Charging/dp/B079LPHKCQ .
It's $200 and you might not need it once you put in your home charger.

The next best thing is to get a thick gauge cord. 12 gauge can work at 15 feet, and if you find a 10 gauge then you could go longer. The shorter-- the safer. I bought the 15 feet 12 gauge extension cord at Lowe's. It's rated to work in all weather.

The Hikari Ultra LED kit that I bought on Amazon works great. They are plug and play with the Volt's wiring and the driver pack fits into the headlight housing without issue. Really, really bright lights!

Here they are on Amazon: HIKARI Ultra LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit-9012, Prime LED 12000lm Cool White 6000K

Here is a video that I posted on YouTube that shows them in action: 2015 Chevy Volt with Hikari Ultra LEDs

I have this one and it's been very good and has gotten very good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HN0HBFG/

There's also a version that only does 1080P, the A118.

I use this one which allows me to arrange my phone landscape to the left of the steering wheel and doesn't block any front visibility. Perfect for android auto / nav.

I used an add a fuse to a DC USB converter. I've had mine in for about a year now with no issues. I went through the horn fuse. I set one up to the right of the TPMS sensor and one in the back in the small glass panel underneath the rear window.
Edit: here is what it looks like,
https://i.imgur.com/tIVI3y1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rusnJwk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Jq0AKJq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dAAyZTf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BkAIBZj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eizLI63.jpg

Dashcam

DC-converter

Add-a-fuse

i made my own (as i was connecting to an older 30A circuit for an older welder), but i've seen this one mentioned more than once for people who don't want to make their own:

https://www.amazon.com/BloomGrow-110V-120V-220V-Adapter/dp/B075FTC9RT

and close enough, considering the cost difference.