RivianXpress
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Announcing our new "CLUBS" section where you can join or create a Rivian club or group! You can use this new feature to conveniently plan and discuss local events, gatherings or other club/group related topics.
So we encourage you to join (or start) special-interest and regional-based Rivian clubs at: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/group-categories/clubs-groups.1/
....TSLA also announcing opening their entire network- good news and the timing is great. It's looking like R1s will be able to hit the road with access to both EA and TSLA chargers. Hard to see that as a negative...
I would not go that far.So the beginning of the end of another alleged Tesla moat - like the batteries (commercially available), OTA (all do that now in the EV space) etc.
What do you mean? Rivian (and most other EVs) have the charge port on the driver's side, just like a Tesla. It's just at the front rather than the rear. So pulling head in, it's actually in a better position than the Tesla is?The connector is only half the problem with Tesla superchargers. The cable length IMO is a much bigger problem, they are just barely long enough to connect to a Tesla. Rivian’s charge port is on the opposite side of the vehicle. Only way to plug in would be to occupy the adjacent stall and plug into the wrong supercharger, meaning you would be occupying two spaces. Doubt this would go over very well at a busy supercharging station.
When a Tesla backs into a supercharger spot, they plug into the charger on the drivers side of the vehicle. If an R1T pulls in head first, the drivers side of the vehicle is now on opposite side of the stall. The supercharger cable is gonna be 5 feet short.What do you mean? Rivian (and most other EVs) have the charge port on the driver's side, just like a Tesla. It's just at the front rather than the rear. So pulling head in, it's actually in a better position than the Tesla is?
Agreed, only real solution to this problem is going to involve Tesla retrofitting almost all existing SC locations, which could take years, if it ever actually happens. They were never designed to be open to non-teslas. I was initially excited to hear Tesla was going to open their SC network, but between the issues of cable length and the need for an adapter, its not a legitimate solution for most non-teslas. Fingers crossed the RAN network has a quick roll out.There are a few (definitely in the minority) SC stations where you can approach the terminal from its back side. Lebanon, NH comes to mind. No problem there. For the majority of stations an "extension cord" of some sort would be required for the Rivians to use the present configuration. This is feasible but there are going to have to be limitations on available current (don't see an extension cord including a coolant loop) but still limited current from a working Tesla terminal is better than no current from a failed EA terminal. Eventually, if Tesla wants to make charging available to other OEMs' products, they will have to retrofit longer cables.
I believe they are liquid cooled, so making an extension would be challenging and expensive. Or charge rate would limited.Since Tesla chargers will need a Tesla to CCS adapter, I think it would make sense for Tesla (or someone) to make an adapter that is also an extension, allowing most other vehicles to use the charger designated for the space they park in.