EV Extend: Extending Electric Vehicle Capabilities

Emergency Power Wiring Kit (for 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt)

EVEX‑1500W/EVEX‑1501W

Frequently Asked Questions | Brochure (PDF)

Hatch Storage Compartment Door
Hatch Storage Compartment Before Installation
Hatch Storage Compartment After Installation

Purchase

Item
Number
Item
Description
Purchase
EVEX-1500W2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt 1500W Emergency Back-up Power Wiring Kit$189.00 Buy Now
EVEX-1501W2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt 1500W Emergency Back-up Power Wiring Kit, bundled with a 1500W/3000W surge pure sinewave inverter with standard outlets.$444.00 Buy Now
EVEX-1502W2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt 1500W Emergency Back-up Power Wiring Kit, bundled with a 1500W/3000W surge pure sinewave inverter with GFCI outlets.$678.00 Sold out
EVEX-1503W2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt 1500W Emergency Back-up Power Wiring Kit, bundled with a 1500W/3000W surge pure sinewave inverter with standard outlets and remote switch.$474.00 Buy Now

Reviews

"My eldest son and I installed the inverter kit yesterday. We were quite comfortable with the included directions, which truly were superb. Everything fit perfectly and the pictures were excellent. I am SO glad that we used your kit rather than attempt to do it on our own. There is no way that we could have installed the inverter kit as professionally, and of course it saved us a huge amount of time and effort. Plus, we have the comfort of knowing that your kit was thoroughly researched, and then designed with a strong margin of safety." -- Chris M., Pennsylvania

Features

  • Detailed Instructions (with photos) Included
  • Utilizes 12V accessory power system of the Volt
  • Provides backup power without needing to run the Volt’s gasoline engine*
  • Includes all hardware and accessories designed specifically for the Volt
  • No drilling or other modifications to the Volt are needed
  • Quick disconnect system allows for easy connection of inverter
  • Maximum Inverter Size supported: 1500W with 3000W surge
  • Installation Time: 30-45 minutes

Description

The EVEX-1500W and EVEX-1501W are do-it-yourself** wiring kits to provide emergency backup power from your Chevrolet Volt. The kits are custom-designed for the Volt (model years 2011-2015), to allow for a hidden installation with power connector access through the fuse box compartment on the left-side of the hatch storage area.

The kit includes a fuse holder with fuse, heavy duty wires cut to length with pre-installed wire terminals, and a heavy duty connector set to allow quick connections to the inverter of your choice as needed.

The EVEX-1500W, is designed for a maximum inverter size of 1500W with 3000W surge. The EVEX-1501W is the same wiring kit bundled with a 1500W pure sinewave inverter. These power ratings are designed to work within the limits of the Volt’s 12V power electronics design.

More Questions? Browse our EVEX‑1500W/EVEX‑1501W FAQ

Do you have kits available for inverters larger than 1500W?
I want to run a fridge or freezer off my vehicle, will this kit work?
Will this void all or part of my vehicle's warranty?
Do you have wiring kits available for other vehicles?


Battery Compartment Before Install
Battery Compartment After Install

EVEX‑1500W/EVEX‑1501W Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have kits available for inverters larger than 1500W?

At this time, we have chosen to only offer a wiring kit that supports up to 1500W continuous power. This is to ensure that the power draw from the inverter will work properly with the built-in power electronics of the vehicle. Larger systems, combined with other electronics that are always running in your vehicle, may draw more total power than the Volt can provide, ultimately resulting in a dead battery or damaged electronics within your vehicle.

I want to run a fridge or freezer off my vehicle, will this kit work?

The compressor of a refrigerator requires an initial starting current that is much greater than the current it will use once the compressor is running. Refrigerators are quite varied in size and energy efficiency, and as a result, this starting current (also known as "surge current" or "surge power") can vary greatly, even among similarly sized refrigerators. The ability for an inverter to provide this surge current can also vary greatly from product to product. As a result, it is often difficult to know definitively if an appliance can be operated from a given inverter without simply trying it.

This kit has successfully powered a full-sized kitchen refrigerator having a nameplate rated current draw of 3.5 amps at 115VAC. The methodology to label the power consumption of the appliance, however, also varies greatly. This test was done using just a 1000W pure sine wave inverter, with a rated 2000W surge capability.

As a general rule of thumb, people suggest measuring the continuous power of a fridge when the compressor is running, using a Kill-a-Watt power meter. An inverter that can continuously supply 3 to 4 times this measured power is typically sufficient to handle the initial starting current of the refrigerator's compressor. However, as stated above, the only real way to know is to simply try it with the inverter you plan to use.

Will this void all or part of my vehicle's warranty?

There have been various discussions and posts on forums about whether or not a wiring modification such as this would void all or part of your vehicle's warranty.

The wiring kit only makes a connection to the Volt's 12 volt battery terminals. As a result, it would seem reasonable to conclude that any warranty issues as a result of this installation, if any, would be limited to the 12 volt system.

There is also the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 that states a dealer must prove that after-market equipment caused the need for repairs before it can deny warranty coverage. (See Edmunds.com article: What Voids your Vehicle's Warranty?)

This would suggest that only a small portion of your warranty could be voided, and only if the dealer can show it was this wiring kit that caused the need for repairs.

However, EV Extend cannot make any definitive claims as to whether or not installing this kit will void your warranty.

Do you have wiring kits available for other vehicles?

Yes! In addition to this kit for the 2011-2015 (Gen 1) Chevrolet Volt, we also have kits for the following vehicles: If you would like to be notified of when a particular vehicle has a kit available, please contact us.


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