[New Email] Expanding EV Exploration, RAN (Rivian Adventure Network)

[MountainBikeDude]

I would assume you will get a year of free electrons at least after you take delivery, at least that is the impression I have. The open question is how long they give us current owners free charging.

Also the other open question is what their subscription is going to cost, I mean that is TBD but as an owner almost everything depends on that cell connection (Spotify, NAV, Driver+, etc) so I think the ownership experience looks very different without that cell connection.

Good point on the connectivity, As someone that doesn't own a tesla, what's that like? do you pay to have connectivity, or is it reliant on being tethered to your cell?

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[crashmtb]

How long do we think the network will remain free? It would be nice if we get some stations up here in Vancouver and when I take delivery I can at least get in some free electrons for a bit... just a little bit... Please Rivian....

To thank our earliest customers and celebrate the network launch, charging at Rivian Adventure Network sites is free for now. We’ll share details on future pricing and membership as the network expands.

I'd like to see this network, in canada, cover areas that AREN'T THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY.

But their map of planned locations for Canada is pretty damned barren when looking at places that aren't banff, BC lower mainland, or GTA.

 

[Craigins]

Amen! I am looking forward to the proposed Jackson & Tupelo locations. Would be great if they prioritized holes in the existing network rather than pile more options into charger-rich environments. ?

This.

When I saw the first RAN station and it was a few miles away from an EA station I was dumbfounded. That's not "Expanding EV Exploration". That is building a charger at a location with existing infrastructure to check a box.

Even closer to their home base, they should have added I39 to their list. Then they could expand ev Exploration to northern WI and the UP.

 

[jjswan33]

Good point on the connectivity, As someone that doesn't own a tesla, what's that like? do you pay to have connectivity, or is it reliant on being tethered to your cell?

Not owned a Tesla either. As far as Rivian you get 1 year of the service free and then after that you will need to subscription of some kind, that they haven't fully announced/decided. Maybe it will be possible to tether your cell connection but I haven't tried.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

I'd like to see this network, in canada, cover areas that AREN'T THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY.

But their map of planned locations for Canada is pretty damned barren when looking at places that aren't banff, BC lower mainland, or GTA.

I was looking at their charger location map yesterday. It's sad how few are being installed in BC and other provinces compared to California/FLorida where you have a RAN charger every 30 meters. Poor Canada....

 

[crashmtb]

I was looking at their charger location map yesterday. It's sad how few are being installed in BC and other provinces compared to California/FLorida where you have a RAN charger every 30 meters. Poor Canada....

There are zero on the prairies.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

There are zero on the prairies.

I know, and northern BC. Basically, go from Vancouver to Calgary/Edmonton, beyond that... Pray

 

[crashmtb]

I know, and northern BC. Basically, go from Vancouver to Calgary/Edmonton, beyond that... Pray

I don't think they're even covering hwy 3 are they?? I'd like to be able to drive to Nelson etc.


At least there's the 50kw BC Hydro chargers at rest stops...if they're working.

 

[DJG]

This.

When I saw the first RAN station and it was a few miles away from an EA station I was dumbfounded. That's not "Expanding EV Exploration". That is building a charger at a location with existing infrastructure to check a box.

Even closer to their home base, they should have added I39 to their list. Then they could expand ev Exploration to northern WI and the UP.

I think a majority will be redundant to EA stations (evidenced by their vague map) for a couple reasons. First, EA chose those locations already because they are the most used and therefore the best "return on investment" for Rivian. With more adoption the number of stalls at those EA stations will become inadequate quickly, so by piggybacking Rivian can deliver surety to owners that there will be available and working charging plugs on the most traveled routes.

The entire point of RAN is to sell vehicles, so it's only natural that they would sort a list of locations that will help them achieve that goal. Highly trafficked interstates in areas they have the highest concentration of customers is first on that list. Remote locations are at the bottom.

 

[FullNelsonAZ]

Anyone know exactly where it will be in Arizona (permits,records, etc)? Really hoping for Camp Verde.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

I don't think they're even covering hwy 3 are they?? I'd like to be able to drive to Nelson etc.


At least there's the 50kw BC Hydro chargers at rest stops...if they're working.

Tow rating is good tho... maybe chuck this on a trailer and do a rolling charge. never have to stop!

 

[Craigins]

I think a majority will be redundant to EA stations (evidenced by their vague map) for a couple reasons. First, EA chose those locations already because they are the most used and therefore the best "return on investment" for Rivian. With more adoption the number of stalls at those EA stations will become inadequate quickly, so by piggybacking Rivian can deliver surety to owners that there will be available and working charging plugs on the most traveled routes.

The entire point of RAN is to sell vehicles, so it's only natural that they would sort a list of locations that will help them achieve that goal. Highly trafficked interstates in areas they have the highest concentration of customers is first on that list. Remote locations are at the bottom.

While what you say makes sense, and is a good business plan, that is not what Rivian is claiming the RAN will be.

Rivian Adventure Network sites power longer road trips on major travel routes and interstates, but they’re also intentionally positioned for access to adventure in wild, uncrowded places.

 

[PastyPilgrim]

Also the other open question is what their subscription is going to cost, I mean that is TBD but as an owner almost everything depends on that cell connection (Spotify, NAV, Driver+, etc) so I think the ownership experience looks very different without that cell connection.

They really need to figure out what's up with the subscription. I asked my guide about the subscription (what it'll include, cost, etc.) during my purchasing process and was shocked by how little they've figured out. She also seemed to be concerned because we're coming up on a year of ownership for the first deliveries and apparently they still don't know.

One thing that I thought was interesting was that my guide wouldn't associate the cell service with the subscription. She kept saying that the cell service was complementary. Further, I don't think there was anything about the subscription, about needing to get a data plan later, etc. in the buying contract, so I wonder if the plan is to offer pre-subscription purchases access to data perpetually (to avoid any legal sketchiness that would come from changing terms and services later, since they didn't have the subscription defined and ready to go yet).

Wishful thinking anyway.

 

[crashmtb]

They really need to figure out what's up with the subscription. I asked my guide about the subscription (what it'll include, cost, etc.) during my purchasing process and was shocked by how little they've figured out. She also seemed to be concerned because we're coming up on a year of ownership for the first deliveries and apparently they still don't know.

One thing that I thought was interesting was that my guide wouldn't associate the cell service with the subscription. She kept saying that the cell service was complementary. Further, I don't think there was anything about the subscription, about needing to get a data plan later, etc. in the buying contract, so I wonder if the plan is to offer pre-subscription purchases access to data perpetually (to avoid any legal sketchiness that would come from changing terms and services later, since they didn't have the subscription defined and ready to go yet).

Wishful thinking anyway.

They might do what tesla did and provide what is now "premium connectivity" for free to earlier adopters for as long as they own their car.

My parents have a 2017 Model S, they paid $5k or whatever it ws at the time for "full self driving/autopilot". That car just got the latest autopilot hardware installed, at no cost, and has "premium connectivity" for zero dollars.

It also has free lifetime supercharging, which was useless in most of Canada until 2020.

Of course crazy uncle elon could take all that away at any time...

 

[DJG]

While what you say makes sense, and is a good business plan, that is not what Rivian is claiming the RAN will be.

I think it is. I said there will be both, just that there will be far more of the interstate variety. I think they strategically chose the first three to be aligned with the adventure theme, because the same launch but for a station in the middle of LA wouldn't really be on theme...

They've produced a rough map of how they envision the network, and it lays it out clear as day. Take Texas for example. Of the 31 locations, only 5 are in new areas from what already exists from EA. In CO it's more even, about half are new locations in adventure locations. One area they do appear to be doing a great service to is Montana and Wyoming.

Keep in mind too, even if there was zero strategy with prioritization and senior brass just said GO to any and all sites, getting the power delivery for a L3 station in remote locations is much more challenging than off interstates. They probably planned for the first three in advance to make sure they were first for a marketable launch, but after that the remote sites will take longer.

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