Rivian is constructing its personal charging community, with an emphasis on charging stations in distant places, CEO RJ Scaringe stated in an interview with TechCrunch printed Tuesday.
To match the rugged advertising and marketing angle of its R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV, the corporate plans to find charging stations close to mountain climbing trails, kayaking spots, and different leisure locations.
The community will embrace DC fast-charging stations and slower “vacation spot chargers” at places the place pace is not as vital, in response to TechCrunch. Tesla has taken an identical method, augmenting its Supercharger fast-charging stations with Stage 2 AC stations at locations the place drivers are more likely to dwell, similar to accommodations, city parking garages, and eating places.
Securing places for charging stations presents a “actually attention-grabbing and difficult actual property” downside, Scaringe stated. That echoes feedback by Electrify America staffers, who’ve indicated the outdated real-estate maxim “location, location, location” is especially true for fast-charging stations.
Rivian R1S
Rivian homeowners might use Electrify America and different third-party networks, as the corporate makes use of the identical Mixed Charging Customary (CCS) as many different automakers. However Scaringe stated Rivian wished its personal community with a view to management the shopper expertise.
Scaringe stated Rivian fast-charging stations will have the ability to add 140 miles of vary in 20 minutes, including that the corporate will deploy charging stations for each shopper and fleet use. Rivian is constructing 100,000 electrical supply vans for Amazon, utilizing a model of the “skateboard” platform from the R1T and R1S, however with a body-shell design unique to the net retail big.
Along with charging stations, Rivian has mentioned different strategies of getting its automobiles to distant locations, together with auxiliary battery packs and truck-to-truck charging.
Jeep, in the meantime, is constructing solar-powered charging stations alongside off-road trails for its Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, however these are slower Stage 2 AC models.