The BulleTin • Sunday, april 25, 2021 D11
EV-maker Rivian plans
Tesla-like nationwide
fast-charging network
BY HENRY PAYNE
The Detroit News
E
lectric-vehicle maker
Rivian Automotive is
borrowing a page from
Tesla Inc. and building an ex-
clusive, fast-charger network
for its coming R1T pickup and
R1S SUV.
Dubbed the Rivian Adven-
ture Network, it promises an
ambitious, 600 super-charging
stations offering 3,500 char-
gers by 2023 on routes across
the United States and Canada.
The chargers will be exclusive
to Rivian owners, though a
secondary, so-called Waypoint
network of 10,000, 240-volt
chargers will be open to the
public at hotels and other busi-
nesses.
With big capital reserves,
Rivian and Tesla are separat-
ing themselves from the elec-
tric-vehicle pack by building
exclusive charging networks.
Other legacy automakers
(as well as less capitalized
EV startups like Lucid and
Fisker Inc.) intend to rely on
third-party, fast-charging net-
works like Electrify America,
Chargepoint and EVGO.
Each Rivian charging sta-
tion will operate six chargers
on average at speeds starting
at 200 kW (with planned 300
kW). Tesla’s 150-250 kW fast-
charging stations — “Super
Chargers” in Tesla speak —
average nine stalls per station
with the largest housing 56
stalls south of San Francisco.
Tesla’s Supercharger net-
work launched in 2012 with its
Model S sedan and has grown
to 1,101 stations across North
America. It has added enor-
mous overhead cost to the
young electric automaker —
but has also been a key factor
in establishing its EV dom-
inance as Teslas can reliably
slake their thirst for electrons
on long-distance trips.
Competitors like the Chevy
Bolt, GMC Hummer EV, Ford
Mustang Mach-E, and Volk-
swagen ID.4, by contrast, can-
not use Tesla or Rivian fast
chargers. They must rely on
the patchwork of third-party
chargers.
Legacy automakers hope
Electric America’s fast-growing
network of 500 stations (built
by VW as penance for the
Dieselgate scandal) — as well
as anticipated spending from
electric utilities and the Biden
Administration’s forthcoming,
$3 trillion infrastructure bill —
will help them compete.
“(Our) nationwide network
of DC fast chargers are capa-
ble of adding up to 140 miles
of range in 20 minutes to the
R1T and R1S,” said Rivian in
announcing its network on its
website.
“The Rivian Adventure Net-
work is designed for quick re-
charges so you can keep mov-
ing. Los Angeles to Tahoe.
Manhattan to the Adirondacks.
I-70 to The Rockies. Michigan’s
UP via I-75. The entire Blue
Ridge Parkway from Shenan-
doah National Park down to
Great Smoky Mountains Na-
tional Park. The network also
extends further into more re-
mote destinations.”
The remote destination
promise dovetails with Rivi-
an’s marketing as an adventure
brand bringing battery power
to off-road vehicles. The brand
is aimed at well-heeled over-
landers who want to get away
to national parks and other lo-
cations.
Rivian promises its Way-
point 240-volt, “Level Two”
chargers in every state park.
It jump-started that goal this
week by committing to install
at least two charging stations
in all 42 Colorado state parks
by July.
The EV-maker is also com-
mitted to producing 10,000,
battery-powered delivery
trucks for Amazon by 2022
(100,000 by 2023) — but the
Rivian Adventure Network
will operate separately from
infrastructure charging those
trucks.
Rivian says its charging net-
work will be conveniently lo-
cated on highways and roads
near cafes and shops. Tesla
Superchargers are commonly
found at Meijer mega-stores
with dining and shopping
nearby to kill time while its
vehicles charge up to an hour
depending on the amount
of range required. Electrify
America stations are frequently
found at Walmarts.
Rivian says that details on
pricing will be released for
customers soon. Third-party
charging companies typically
have subscription plans with
some automakers covering
their costs for first-time EV
buyers. Tesla rolled out its ser-
vice free to Model S owners
in 2012 but has since begun
charging as more vehicles like
the hot-selling Model 3 sedan
have come to market.
Utilities are getting in on the
fast-charging act, too. Six Mid-
west utilities have committed
to building a fast-charging net-
work from Michigan to Kansas
by 2022. .
Rivian, with operations in
Michigan and California, of-
fers a wall charger for home
installation at vehicle purchase.
EV makers recommend 240-
volt charger installations for
about 16 miles of charge per
hour. A standard, 120-volt out-
let returns a meek few miles of
charge per hour.
METOLIUS CLASSICS
FOREIGN & AMERICAN VINTAGE VEHICLES
1052 SE Paiute Way, Bend, OR
541-797-6807 • 808-372-6623 • 541-213-8454
www.metoliusclassics.com
RENT AND BUY FROM METOLIUS CLASSICS!
An enterprise uniquely and exclusively offering a showroom for classic and
vintage vehicles for sale, consignment, and VIP services*.
How it works: You rent a classic or sports car for one day or more with a full fuel tank and if
you like it and buy it, we will discount between 100% to 25% of the rental fee, as follows:
• One-Day Rental & Purchase: 100% discount
• Two-Days Rental & Purchase: 75% discount
• Three-Days Rental & Purchase: 50% discount
• Four-Days or more Rental & Purchase: 25% discount
1938 Packard Super 8
Limousine *
Rent: $850 per day;
Sale Price: $49,500
1967 Jaguar XKE
Limousine *
Rent: $600 per day;
Sale Price: $35,000
1999 Cadillac Seville –
50th Anniversary *
Rent: $350 per day
Sale Price: $13,500
1995 Cadillac Fleetwood
Brougham *
Rent: $400 per day
Sale Price: $15,500
1996 Jaguar XJS
Rent: $500 per day
Sale Price: $23,500
2001 Jaguar XK8
Rent: $600 per day
Sale Price: $19,750
2006 Jaguar–Victoria
Edition
Rent: $600 per day
Price: $29,750
1996 Jaguar XJS
Rent: $500 per day
Sale Price: $17,550
1987 BMW 635I
Rent: $500 per day
Sale Price: $27,500
2001 BMW M5
Rent: $ 500 per day
Sale Price: $19,500
2001 BMW 740I *
Rent: $500 per day
Sale Price: $ 23,500
1963 MG MGB - Roaster
Rent: $400 per day
Sale Price: $ 34,000
Call or write to us now to schedule a visit to test drive our vehicles under the Rent & Buy Program
Introductory Prices: 10% discount on rents and 5% discount on purchases until May 31st, 2021
metoliuscl@gmail.com • Main: 541-797-6807 • John: 808-372-6623 • Carlos: 541-213-8454