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 right now.
• Extra fast-charging websites are coming in 2025 and past.

Charging your electrical automobile at residence 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 outdoors and also you’re mainly out of luck if you must 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 common sense updates to the charging expertise, and the primary instance of this opens to the general public right now. Even higher, extra Rivian Charging Outposts like this are coming quickly and so they’ll be open to all EVs.

In the present day, 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 yr at a transformed fuel station close to Yosemite Nationwide Park. Not like, say, the off-highway strip mall you have been frequenting in your fast-charging wants, the Rivian website boasts an on-site library, a path combine bar, a lounge to chill out 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 might 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 essential milestone in help of electrifying the whole transportation sector,” Rivian officers stated 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 Normal (NACS)-equipped autos with an automaker-approved adapter.”

A future {hardware} replace may also enable these stations to help 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 help “tap-to-pay” shows so you’ll be able to cost up with out having to put in the Rivian app. They will 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 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 stated in an announcement. “Now, we’re excited to deliver 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 street might be easy, sustainable, and handy.”

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There’s additionally excellent news in case you, sadly, don’t stay throughout the neighborhood of Joshua Tree. Rivian stated that extra fast-charging websites are coming on-line this yr—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 attempt to develop the general public EV charging expertise past the pretty dismal expertise many drivers at the moment take care of. Whereas charging at house is the easiest way to drive electrical, for individuals who can’t or are on street journeys, getting juice out in public usually means a hodgepodge of smartphone fee apps, inconvenient areas, lengthy strains and nowhere to get snacks or use the amenities.

However that is altering shortly and evolving right into a mannequin that is a bit extra like a fuel 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 related facilities, and whereas Mercedes house owners get sure perks, these websites are open to all EV drivers as properly. 

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