Over the past year, electric vehicle manufacturers have shown a growing willingness to cooperate, particularly when it comes to their charging networks.
Many automakers are now adopting Tesla’s North American Charging System (NACS), which is quickly becoming the new industry standard. Now Rivian is taking a major step by allowing drivers of other brands’ EVs to use its charging locations.
For the first time ever, non-Rivian EV drivers will be able to charge their vehicles at Rivian’s next-generation charging locations.
The first of these new Rivian Adventure Network stations opens today at the Joshua Tree Charging Outpost in California.
Before the end of the year, Rivian has plans to open additional locations in Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Montana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New York.
These new stations are equipped for rapid charging up to 900 volts and feature CCS connectors, which are compatible with NACS-equipped EVs when paired with the appropriate adapter. Rivian has also indicated that support for native NACS connectors will be introduced in the near future.
While Rivian’s move is beneficial to other EV drivers, it’s not entirely about charity. This decision is also a strategic business move to generate revenue.
The charging stations include a tap-to-pay feature, meaning drivers can use them without needing to download the Rivian app.
Rivian has ambitious plans to expand its Adventure Network with over 3,500 DC fast chargers in total.
The company already has 91 Adventure Network sites in the United States, with plans to add 12 more. Additionally, Rivian drivers still have access to Tesla Superchargers, which provides added convenience.
