Rivian, the EV manufacturer, announces plans to open its Adventure Network charging stations to other electric vehicle brands. The change is occurring because Rivian will integrate North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging hardware. Rivian announced that the initiative will begin with an outpost near California’s Joshua Tree National Park and will expand to additional locations in the future. The National Park Service counted 325.5 million people for fun in 2023, 13 million more than in 2022. According to eBay Motors, sales from ads on Rivian’s website that include the word “overlanding” will rise by more than 3,500% between 2019 and 2023. This shows that Rivian supports America’s love of the great outdoors. Last month, a charging station near Joshua Tree National Park became a part of the Rivian Adventure Network. Compared to stations that have already been built, this one is much better because it has chargers that can work with any EV, not just Rivian types. Like older Rivian chargers, these new ones have CCS ports and can charge up to 900 volts quickly. However, Rivian, along with rivals GM and Ford, agreed to support Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) in 2023. This meant that the company could charge NACS-equipped cars as long as users brought their own adaptor. Rivian plans to move its vehicles and set up direct NACS hardware at some point next year. Rivian created the Adventure Network to better serve its own customers. Reaching out to the whole EV community is a kind gesture and a smart way to attract more potential customers. Sara Eslinger, leader of the Rivian Adventure Network, emphasizes the importance of reliable charging, stating that charging infrastructure is a critical component of the EV experience. She explains, “We prioritize reliability and uptime to ensure peace of mind, and we are dedicated to expanding infrastructure in areas where it is most needed.” Rivian came up with the idea for the new chargers, designed them, and made them themselves. Eslinger says it looks a lot like modern Outpost chargers but with a few key differences: longer wires, a red and green color-coding system for lighting and charging access, and a taller design to make it easier to see. This last part is especially important for bigger electric SUVs and trucks, which may be more likely to go to these faraway places. For Rivian cars, charging stations are plug-and-play, so you don’t have to switch between apps. For other EV users, all it takes is a simple credit card tap. He mentioned that while visitors can use the Rivian app to view our network locations, we’ve made sure not to create any barriers to entry. “It can be stressful, particularly late at night with kids in the car, so we kept it simple—just use your credit card, and it’s easy,” he said.
