Anyone Still Using RAN?

[BeanEW]

I am on a road trip from S.F. Bay Area, to L.A. to Phoenix, and back to L.A. My first two charges were at a RAN at $0.6x/KW; and then I only used Tesla charging stations at $o.5x the rest of the way due to convenient and price differences.

I'm just wondering if the Rivian owners are still using RAN for roadtrips because the most I have seen on this trip was one R1 at each RAN.

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[Scottm]

Yeah I skipped all the RAN’s on my last trip down to Sacramento and Tahoe. With the Tesla membership pricing it was way cheaper to use the non-RAN chargers. I’m hoping they bring their pricing down or give us better pricing as Rivian owners as they open more up to the public.

 

[MysterG]

Last round trip from Bay Area to south of Portland OR I only stopped at the 2 RANs once, using Tesla chargers because of the out-of-whack price difference. Sad because I would prefer not to patronize other providers over RANs. What is up with pricing strategy?

 

[Taco Corp]

Yes, but only because I have referral credits that give me free charging until sometime in 2027. Otherwise, Tesla or EA are both cheaper, even without paying for a membership.

 

[BeanEW]

Yes, but only because I have referral credits that give me free charging until sometime in 2027. Otherwise, Tesla or EA are both cheaper, even without paying for a membership.

EA used to be my goto place on roadtrips but the queue is getting worse and worse, and I stopped going to them.

 

[j.w.s]

I am on a road trip from S.F. Bay Area, to L.A. to Phoenix, and back to L.A. My first two charges were at a RAN at $0.6x/KW; and then I only used Tesla charging stations at $o.5x the rest of the way due to convenient and price differences.

I'm just wondering if the Rivian owners are still using RAN for roadtrips because the most I have seen on this trip was one R1 at each RAN.

For my recent road trips up and down California:

* Electrify America had the best prices, but were very often full, with cars waiting in line to charge.
* Tesla had the next best prices, with few lines, but I don't want to support Tesla if at all possible.
* RAN was fast and reliable and had few lines, but had become the most expensive. Yuck. But for the occasional charge, well OK.

 

[beatle]

Just like before, if the station has better amenities compared to others or it otherwise lines up as a good location to charge, I'll stop at a RAN station. I use them so infrequently. Breezewood, PA is still a good one for my trips to Western NY, and I stopped at one in Front Royal this past Thanksgiving weekend. They can be better than some busy Tesla stations since you may have to wait for two adjacent spots to open up since the Rivian charge port is in the "wrong" place.

 

[lefkonj]

I use it when required but steer clear of Tesla as much as possible. We really charge at home 90% of the time and when traveling EVGO, EA, RAN before Tesla unless I have zero choice.

 

[jlstan]

I stop at that Front Royal RAN whether I need to or not. Starbucks and multiple restaurants, and pretty empty; just a good spot.

 

[Lord Leroy]

Nope. Too expensive now.

 

[monzarottie]

I am on a road trip from S.F. Bay Area, to L.A. to Phoenix, and back to L.A. My first two charges were at a RAN at $0.6x/KW; and then I only used Tesla charging stations at $o.5x the rest of the way due to convenient and price differences.

I'm just wondering if the Rivian owners are still using RAN for roadtrips because the most I have seen on this trip was one R1 at each RAN.

Hell yeah. I'm not giving EM a single penny.

 

[2kwik4u]

Just like before, if the station has better amenities compared to others or it otherwise lines up as a good location to charge, I'll stop at a RAN station. I use them so infrequently. Breezewood, PA is still a good one for my trips to Western NY, and I stopped at one in Front Royal this past Thanksgiving weekend. They can be better than some busy Tesla stations since you may have to wait for two adjacent spots to open up since the Rivian charge port is in the "wrong" place.

is Breezewood, the new one near Erie?

I travel the I-90/I-71 corridor between Louisville and Buffalo often. Erie is too close if I'm coming from Buffalo (usually with 100% SoC departure), but I often his the Tesla SC just off 90 in Erie for a quick "top off" to make it home on the return trip.

I've stopped prioritizing RAN on the trip south. $0.61/kWh is double what the Tesla stations are at. My free RAN charging ran out in March. I have a subscription with Tesla, but don't really prioritize them. I typically looks for amenities nearby as the first criteria. So far, I've found the Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo metro areas to have an acceptable level of options and they all seem to work well. Who has the best bathrooms along the fastest route is now the deciding factor for me.

 

[comtns]

I'm planning to use RAN given some free usage that came with my Rivian, once I get a chance to road trip a bit. (Disappointed they didn't include the slow chargers in the freebie, as they're more useful for some trips.). But RAN seems to be super pricey, once I have to pay. I agree with the comment about adjacent services being more important. But Tesla that I used most often on road trips was next to a very nice deli that made great Reubens on gluten free, with good restrooms too. (And local chocolates sometimes.) I wonder how much Rivian is thinking about this. Do they sample the food and services?

 

[beinenson]

Why would you want to use a 100kW station at $0.65? Yes, it is not a typo, when three cars are plugged in (and now not just Rivians), getting a 100kW charge is just so 2012. When your car can take up to 380kW (not Rivian), I cannot see why you would want to charge at a RAN, knowing your charge time can be compromised if two other cars are plugged in. And this applies to 219kW Rivians as well.

 

[DCFC]

Why would you want to use a 100kW station at $0.65? Yes, it is not a typo, when three cars are plugged in (and now not just Rivians), getting a 100kW charge is just so 2012. When your car can take up to 380kW (not Rivian), I cannot see why you would want to charge at a RAN, knowing your charge time can be compromised if two other cars are plugged in. And this applies to 219kW Rivians as well.

Just a FYI, the RAN that are open to everyone are only two dispensers per power cabinet. So a minimum of 150kW.

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