Rivian has announced its intention to open up its charging network to other electric vehicle (EV) brands and has introduced a new charger design for this purpose.
In a press release issued on Friday, Rivian unveiled the charger design that will be used to make the Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) accessible to all compatible EVs later this year. The new charging stall design features 400- and 800-volt packs, CCS connectors, and support for NACS—initially through an adapter, with plans to eventually support native NACS charging.
Initially, the chargers will require an approved adapter to charge vehicles with Tesla’s NACS charger, but Rivian has stated that support for native NACS charging will be added through a future hardware update.
Electrons for all! Later this year we’ll begin opening the Rivian Adventure Network to compatible electric vehicles. We’ll also be introducing new chargers that feature a convenient tap-to-pay experience and the ability to provide fast charging to a wide range of EVs across a… pic.twitter.com/pE7CX0NNr5
— Rivian (@Rivian) April 26, 2024
Paul Frey, Vice President of Battery, Charging, and Adventure Products at Rivian, stated, “Rivian exists to address two specific needs, the electrification of our transportation system and supporting the transition of our power grid to carbon-free energy sources. By broadening access to our Rivian Adventure Network—powered by 100% renewable energy—we are supporting both of these critical goals while also encouraging more people to embark on their next adventure in an EV.”
Rivian plans to begin constructing all new RAN stations with the next-generation charging equipment and will retrofit all existing sites with the new hardware. Additionally, the company intends to prioritize pull-through charging stalls at new sites where feasible, to accommodate vehicles that are towing.
The company also plans to leverage the updated hardware design to utilize funding from the U.S. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, along with additional state and utility programs aimed at supporting the expansion of EV charging infrastructure.
As of February, Rivian’s charging network included 400 DC fast chargers at 67 locations across the U.S. The company aims to have over 3,500 chargers at approximately 600 sites.
This move by Rivian follows Tesla’s announcement last year that it would open its larger Supercharger network to additional EV brands. Tesla has already begun opening the Supercharger network to other EVs, initially to Ford and then to Rivian, after every automaker in the industry signed on to adopt Tesla’s NACS charging port in future designs.
