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 website is its Joshua Tree Charging Outpost in California, open to the general public at the moment.
• Extra fast-charging websites are coming in 2025 and past.

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

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

At this time, the EV startup introduced the launch of its new Joshua Tree Charging Outpost in California. Chances are you’ll 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’ve got been frequenting in your fast-charging wants, the Rivian website boasts an on-site library, a path combine bar, a lounge to calm down in and, better of all, 24-hour restrooms. 

The identical method is coming to Joshua Tree now however this one’s much more of an improve as a result of it is the primary such website 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 suitable EV in North America, these websites are an essential milestone in help of electrifying the complete transportation sector,” Rivian officers mentioned in a information launch. “Strategically positioned to encourage extra folks to drive electrical on their subsequent journey, these chargers will ship speedy charging as much as 900 volts and have CCS connectors with help for North American Charging Commonplace (NACS)-equipped automobiles with an automaker-approved adapter.”

A future {hardware} replace will even permit these stations to help EVs with a local NACS plug, just like the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and finally Rivian’s personal R2 and R3 fashions. As an added bonus, these charging stations will help “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 vitality, the corporate mentioned, countering a frequent criticism that EVs get their vitality from fossil-fuel sources. That is shortly altering because the grid evolves, however Rivian’s getting forward of it now.

“To realize widespread electrification, you additionally want a very good charging community,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe mentioned in a press release. “Now, we’re excited to convey 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 for those who, sadly, don’t reside throughout the neighborhood of Joshua Tree. Rivian mentioned 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 individuals who can’t or are on highway journeys, getting juice out in public typically means a hodgepodge of smartphone fee apps, inconvenient places, lengthy strains and nowhere to get snacks or use the services.

However that is altering shortly 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 web sites coming quickly that boasts retail choices and restrooms too. The Mercedes-Benz Excessive-Energy Charging community is providing comparable facilities, and whereas Mercedes homeowners get sure perks, these websites are open to all EV drivers as effectively. 

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