Rivian – the electric automaker preparing for the first deliveries of its R1S sports utility vehicle and R1T pickup truck – has begun establishing a network of electric charging stations across the US. What’s unique about its network is that it will consist of charging points at various destinations in nature – such as hiking and mountain bike trails, rock-climbing zones, and kayaking spots – in addition to the usual fast-chargers along interstates and throughout cities. It’s a move that makes sense since Rivian’s vehicles are targeting an adventurous customer base.
RJ Scaringe, Rivian founder and CEO, told TechCrunch in an interview:
We’re excited about the opportunity to create Rivian charging locations that aren’t on the interstate, that help draw you or enable you to go to places that normally are not the kinds of places that invite or welcome electric vehicles because of charging infrastructure.
We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how you can essentially create these curated drives where, depending on your point of interest, you can pick different paths. If you want to stop midway through the trip for a one-mile, two-mile, or five-mile hike, you know, here’s a route that you want to take, and here’s a charging location right next to it.
Rivian has raised approximately $6 billion to develop the tech in-house. This includes the high-speed DC chargers, which will charge up to 140 miles in around 20 minutes. Scaringe says this, and establishing the network, are necessary undertakings to build consumer confidence by controlling the entire ownership experience – as Tesla has done.
Scaringe said:
The challenge is we don’t control those networks, so the payments platforms, the uptime, the performance, the ability to reserve a charger — all those things that take the friction of charging away — we don’t truly control. With the Rivian Adventure Network, we have 100% control of that; we know what vehicles are charging or how they’re charging the rates. We can be really creative in terms of locations, so it can allow us to get to places that are very specific and unique to Rivian.
The Rivian network is being built for Rivian customers. However, since the charger Rivian vehicles use is an open international standard, another car could use the network if the company doesn’t install software to block non-Rivian users. The universal charger also means Rivian owners can use third-party charging points without having to use an adapter.
Dozens of charging stations, with an average of six charging connectors each, will be built and ready for use in 2021 – in time for the first deliveries of its vehicles. Full coverage is expected to take years, but there’s an aim of dense coverage by 2023.
