Rivian Charging Speed "Limited by Charger"

[Dave Cundiff]

Today we were charging our 2023 Gen 1 R1S at the 200kW Electric Era CCS-1 charger at Costco in Ridgefield WA. They have escalated the price again, this time to $0.49/kWh.

As the SoC climbed to around 50-60%, the charge rate slowed from 199 kW to 134 kW, and the Rivian driver screen informed me that the charger was limiting charge speed.

I don't think that's correct. I think the Rivian was limiting the charge speed because of SoC, temperature, or both.

I should have checked the heat of various components, but I didn't. My wife disconnected after it reached 70%. She reports that the latch unit didn't feel warm.

Based on this and others related forum posts, I believe Rivian software is falsely blaming the charger for many charge rate decreases, even when the Rivian vehicle is (appropriately!) slowing the charge rate itself.

Best wishes!

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[Time2Roll]

Could have been internal heat but I agree more likely normal tapering.

Would be interesting to know at what percent the tapering would happen in normal conditions.

 

[ahoover]

A test might be to disconnect at slow down and then reconnect and start charging again on a different charging station.

 

[strykerwsu]

Today we were charging our 2023 Gen 1 R1S at the 200kW Electric Era CCS-1 charger at Costco in Ridgefield WA. They have escalated the price again, this time to $0.49/kWh.

As the SoC climbed to around 50-60%, the charge rate slowed from 199 kW to 134 kW, and the Rivian driver screen informed me that the charger was limiting charge speed.

I don't think that's correct. I think the Rivian was limiting the charge speed because of SoC, temperature, or both.

I should have checked the heat of various components, but I didn't. My wife disconnected after it reached 70%. She reports that the latch unit didn't feel warm.

Based on this and others related forum posts, I believe Rivian software is falsely blaming the charger for many charge rate decreases, even when the Rivian vehicle is (appropriately!) slowing the charge rate itself.

Best wishes!

You don’t trust your Rivian? Is there a history of lies between you 2?

 

[SANZC02]

In my experience that message has seemed to be accurate. I’ve only seen it a few times at Tesla and EA chargers but usually the charge rate was closer to 60 kWh, once I moved to another stall and did get a higher rate but that was when I got the message at the beginning of the charge cycle.

There can be a lot of reason the charger may be providing less energy than is being requested, that is literally all that message is telling you.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

You don’t trust your Rivian? Is there a history of lies between you 2?

I'm very happy with our Rivians. They, especially the R1S, do things for us that no other vehicle would do -- even in 2025. Rivian's telephone support is excellent. Our nearest Service Center in Portland has given exceptional service and support.

***

Rivian is trying to do a lot of very difficult things at once. I'm amazed at how close they come in so many areas.

Next time I see that "limited by charger" message, which might be a while, I'll try the "disconnect and try another charger" technique suggested by @ahoover and others.

Thanks to all!

 

[strykerwsu]

I'm very happy with our Rivians. They, especially the R1S, do things for us that no other vehicle would do -- even in 2025. Rivian's telephone support is excellent. Our nearest Service Center in Portland has given exceptional service and support.

***

Rivian is trying to do a lot of very difficult things at once. I'm amazed at how close they come in Ao many areas.

Next time I see that "limited by charger" message, which might be a while, I'll try the "disconnect and try another charger" technique suggested by @ahoover and others.

Thanks to all!

I had to give you a hard time, amazing how much technology in these vehicles that we almost have conversations with them now.

Love both of ours as well. I've only seen that message on Tesla chargers. When open I have moved amd generally goes back to expected curve. I think has to do with charger cable temp. Out of spec used to do the cold wash cloth trick.

 

[Rade]

I've gotten into the habit of waiting for my Gen2 R1T to drop below 20% to charge, then take it to a regional Tesla supercharger to bring it back up to the 80-85% range. When I first plug it in, the rate spikes to the low 200kw, then tapers down to the 140kw range for most of the remaining charge, of course dropping off once I pass the 70% mark. It's been very consistent. I have a Tesla supercharging subscription ($12.99), and it has paid for itself after one "fill up".

We currently do not have affordable DCFC services through ChargePoint or Electrify America or EVGo in region, and the rates there (I check every couple of weeks) seem to fluctuate wildly (this is High Tourist Season in Southern New England). The regional rates have soared from $0.50kw to near $0.90kw. The Tesla rates never seem to move; always consistent. Since I am routinely up at 5AM, I can get to the charging center and get the over-night rates (as low as $0.25kw depending on what facility I want to drive to). I just have to REMEMBER that, once at the Supercharging station, to then fire up the Tesla app to start the charging process (it's easy, just another step).

I would LOVE... LOVE... LOVE it Rivian came up with a like, subscription service for the vehicles, or allow for the Rivian to access the Tesla subscription service.

For weeks like the past two, where we had several long trips, then the R1T is more or less parked; I've capped it off at 85% then plug it in on the home L2 (set to low amps) to keep it there.

 

[azbill]

I've gotten into the habit of waiting for my Gen2 R1T to drop below 20% to charge, then take it to a regional Tesla supercharger to bring it back up to the 80-85% range. When I first plug it in, the rate spikes to the low 200kw, then tapers down to the 140kw range for most of the remaining charge, of course dropping off once I pass the 70% mark. It's been very consistent.

I see this all the time at Tesla stations in warm weather and the message "limited by charger" always comes up. It happens consistently with my Hummer also, and it tells me the charger is limiting. It is not the truck lying.

There can be multiple reasons, one is that many chargers are power shared and another is that chargers can get too hot internally. The latter is what I believe happens at Tesla sites. Also the Tesla adapters can get too hot and the charger recognizes that.

 

[docwhiz]

Today we were charging our 2023 Gen 1 R1S at the 200kW Electric Era CCS-1 charger at Costco in Ridgefield WA. They have escalated the price again, this time to $0.49/kWh.

As the SoC climbed to around 50-60%, the charge rate slowed from 199 kW to 134 kW, and the Rivian driver screen informed me that the charger was limiting charge speed.

I don't think that's correct. I think the Rivian was limiting the charge speed because of SoC, temperature, or both.

I should have checked the heat of various components, but I didn't. My wife disconnected after it reached 70%. She reports that the latch unit didn't feel warm.

Based on this and others related forum posts, I believe Rivian software is falsely blaming the charger for many charge rate decreases, even when the Rivian vehicle is (appropriately!) slowing the charge rate itself.

Best wishes!

Looks like you're blaming Rivian without any evidence.
Why not blame your wife?

 

[Budman]

Happens to me often at superchargers. Rarely at EA or others

 

[Dave Cundiff]

Happened to me once at an EA 350-kW charger in Montana, which throttled down to 40 or so. There I really blamed the charger.

I appreciate the feedback and extra information. II probably needed a dose of snark too, so it's all good.

Thanks to all!

 

[COdogman]

I’ve occasionally seen this while charging at EA chargers, but only in the summer heat.

 

[RivAW]

Today we were charging our 2023 Gen 1 R1S at the 200kW Electric Era CCS-1 charger at Costco in Ridgefield WA. They have escalated the price again, this time to $0.49/kWh.

As the SoC climbed to around 50-60%, the charge rate slowed from 199 kW to 134 kW, and the Rivian driver screen informed me that the charger was limiting charge speed.

I don't think that's correct. I think the Rivian was limiting the charge speed because of SoC, temperature, or both.

I should have checked the heat of various components, but I didn't. My wife disconnected after it reached 70%. She reports that the latch unit didn't feel warm.

Based on this and others related forum posts, I believe Rivian software is falsely blaming the charger for many charge rate decreases, even when the Rivian vehicle is (appropriately!) slowing the charge rate itself.

Best wishes!

"Based on this" refers to what exactly....that you simply think it's incorrect because you don't like it? You presented zero evidence of anything being amiss aside from what you "think" and your wife reporting the latch didn't feel warm....

 

[Dave Cundiff]

"Based on this" refers to what exactly....that you simply think it's incorrect because you don't like it? You presented zero evidence of anything being amiss aside from what you "think" and your wife reporting the latch didn't feel warm....

My impression is that I see about the same charge curve at all DCFC chargers, based on SoC and not on the heat or the length of the charger session.

I'm delighted that others know more about this than I do, and are willing to help educate me.

Thanks for the feedback!

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