Genius Chevrolet Bolt driver attaches belt to rear wheel and generator to charge its battery while driving
Published on Nov 06, 2026 at 7:45 AM (UTC-5)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Nov 06, 2026 at 7:45 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This Chevrolet Bolt driver had a bright idea when they attached a belt to the rear wheel and generator to charge the battery mid-drive.
Any EV driver knows the struggle of finding somewhere to charge.
Range anxiety exists for a reason, you know.
But this Chevrolet Bolt driver may have just found the ultimate workaround.
Charging an EV comes with some challenges
While many people will vouch for EVs costing less to refuel, that doesn’t mean they don’t come without their complicating factors.
We’ve seen people face challenges with their EVs.
Whether it was these guys experiencing range anxiety with their Dodge Charger, or this Tesla driver having to make five Supercharger stops on a road trip, there are plenty of anecdotes out there.
Depending on whereabouts in the country you are, you may have a harder time finding chargers.
So it’s all the more impressive when you consider what one Chevrolet Bolt driver did.
Had this Chevrolet Bolt driver found the ultimate hack?
The internet was stunned when they saw a ‘genius’ Chevy Bolt driver who had come up with a solution for an ‘unlimited’ charging hack.
People took a break from arguing in comments sections to admire what this driver had done.
In the post, the driver strapped a generator to the rear wheel of their EV and claimed it could charge the battery while driving.
That’s pretty clever, right?
But does this actually make a difference and benefit your vehicle?
Would this ‘self-charging’ Chevrolet Bolt actually work?
The setup looks simple and it certainly looks appealing on paper.
An EV that would effectively charge itself would be like a silver bullet to range anxiety.
But it doesn’t quite work like that.
A generator does not make power out of nothing, however, it makes electricity by taking mechanical energy from the wheel.
That creates drag, like permanently driving with a parking brake lightly applied.
The Bolt’s motor then has to work harder to keep the same speed, pulling more energy from the battery.
So if anything, it’s kind of self defeating.
Some of the energy is converted back into electricity, but an awful lot of it is wasted as heat, friction, and resistance.
Regenerative braking is more advisable on the whole.
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Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
