Rivian’s Fancy New Charging Outposts Will Be Open To All EVs

• Rivian’s Journey Community charging ecosystem is opening as much as all EVs, not simply the Rivian R1S and R1T.
• Rivian’s first next-generation web site is its Joshua Tree Charging Outpost in California, open to the general public at this time.
• Extra fast-charging websites are coming in 2025 and past.

Charging your electrical car at dwelling is nice and all, however have you ever ever tried doing it at a closed automotive dealership at 10 p.m. when it is raining outdoors and also you’re mainly out of luck if you have to use the toilet? Yeah, I am not a fan of that have both. 

The excellent news is that Rivian is the newest firm to unveil some very common sense updates to the charging expertise, and the primary instance of this opens to the general public at this time. Even higher, extra Rivian Charging Outposts like this are coming quickly and so they’ll be open to all EVs.

At present, the EV startup introduced the launch of its new Joshua Tree Charging Outpost in California. You might acknowledge the vibe right here: the primary Charging Outpost opened earlier this 12 months at a transformed gasoline station close to Yosemite Nationwide Park. Not like, say, the off-highway strip mall you have been frequenting to your fast-charging wants, the Rivian web site boasts an on-site library, a path combine bar, a lounge to calm down in and, better of all, 24-hour restrooms. 

The identical strategy is coming to Joshua Tree now however this one’s much more of an improve as a result of it is the primary such web site that will likely be open to all EVs and never simply Rivian’s R1S and R1T. 

Photograph by: InsideEVs

Rivian Journey Community, Joshua Tree

“Utilizing a brand new charger design to accommodate any appropriate EV in North America, these websites are an necessary milestone in assist of electrifying your entire transportation sector,” Rivian officers stated in a information launch. “Strategically situated to encourage extra folks to drive electrical on their subsequent journey, these chargers will ship fast charging as much as 900 volts and have CCS connectors with assist for North American Charging Commonplace (NACS)-equipped autos with an automaker-approved adapter.”

A future {hardware} replace will even permit these stations to assist EVs with a local NACS plug, just like the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and ultimately Rivian’s personal R2 and R3 fashions. As an added bonus, these charging stations will assist “tap-to-pay” shows so you possibly can cost up with out having to put in the Rivian app. They’re going to even be powered by 100% renewable power, the corporate stated, countering a frequent criticism that EVs get their power from fossil-fuel sources. That is rapidly altering because the grid evolves, however Rivian’s getting forward of it now.

“To attain widespread electrification, you additionally want a very good charging community,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe stated in a press release. “Now, we’re excited to carry the Rivian Journey Community—with its ease of use and distinctive reliability—to different EV drivers round North America, investing in a future the place charging on the highway will likely be easy, sustainable, and handy.”

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There’s additionally excellent news should you, sadly, don’t reside inside the neighborhood of Joshua Tree. Rivian stated that extra fast-charging websites are coming on-line this 12 months—sure, as within the remaining weeks of 2024—in Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Montana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New York. 

Rivian is not the primary firm to try to develop the general public EV charging expertise past the pretty dismal expertise many drivers presently take care of. Whereas charging at house is the easiest way to drive electrical, for many who can’t or are on highway journeys, getting juice out in public typically means a hodgepodge of smartphone fee apps, inconvenient areas, lengthy strains and nowhere to get snacks or use the amenities.

However that is altering rapidly and evolving right into a mannequin that is a bit extra like a gasoline station. Ionna, the charging conglomerate funded by a number of automakers, has a brand new household of websites coming quickly that boasts retail choices and restrooms too. The Mercedes-Benz Excessive-Energy Charging community is providing related facilities, and whereas Mercedes house owners get sure perks, these websites are open to all EV drivers as effectively. 

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