Rivian's Newest EV Charging Station Near Yosemite! Boutique Charge Stops Could Be The Future

Рет қаралды 5,512

Күн бұрын

Episode 428: Plug in with Francie to talk about Rivian's newest electric vehicle charging outpost near Yosemite National Park. She discusses the specs of the site as well as the idea of designing our own boutique EV charging stations - what would yours have? Let us know in the comments. Shoutout to ‪@riviantrackr‬ for helping fact check the deets!
Links used to support today's show:
Rivian website - stories.rivian...
Google - maps.app.goo.g...
PlugShare - www.plugshare....
Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below:
Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000.
Find us on all of these places:
KZbin: / outofspecpodcast
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple...
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Amazon: music.amazon.c...
For further inquiries please email podcast@outofspecstudios.com
#rivian #electricvehicle #evcharging

Пікірлер: 91

@JosephHawkins 2 ай бұрын

Do appreciate the effort by Rivian to repurpose the station and to fill in near dead zones. Hopefully this is just the first of many

@ultrastoat3298 2 ай бұрын

Unfortunately this costs alot of money, and Rivian is essentially burning through all their cash. So sites like these will be few and far between until they figure out how to make a profit.

@JosephHawkins 2 ай бұрын

Just FYI - Groveland is about 25 miles outside Yosemite National Park - on the way via the north entrance along highway 120. There is a TEsla station in Groveland that is NOT open to non - tesla vehicles - closer to the park entrance there is an EA station with 4 chargers -

@NymphettEcho 13 күн бұрын

Is this EA charging station you’re mentioning a fast charging station? And is it near the South Entrance?

@urbanstrencan 2 ай бұрын

Great job Rivian updating old petrol station to EV charging hub we need more of it ❤❤❤❤

@nc3826 2 ай бұрын

u mean, gas stations.... when in Rome, mate....

@johntrotter8678 2 ай бұрын

One of my favorite Tesla Supercharger stations is just across the street and, at least when I stopped a couple years ago, maintenance for the Rivian station was to be handled by the same guy who dealt with Tesla. And he runs a guide service with BEVs charged by solar.

@NextGenEvs 2 ай бұрын

Solar canopy is always a must. Getting rained on while plugging in 500V and hundreds of amps isn’t my favorite 😅

@BrandonDoyleMN 2 ай бұрын

Restrooms, food options near by, close to the exit. I like when they’re in a grocery store parking lot with a strip mall of quick service food options in walking distance. Chipotle, noodles, Quiznos, Panda Express, those types of places

@kensmith5694 2 ай бұрын

The one near me is sort of like that. It is in a mall parking lot. Across the street is a grocery and a place to get lunch etc. In more rural settings what I would want would be a place outdoors to walk around a little. I remember many years ago stopping in a gas station (yes before EVs) that had a picnic table under a tree off to the side. I opted to take my lunch there. While I was eating lunch I noticed that they had also put up little signs on some of the trees beyond the picnic table. The signs gave the common name, scientific name and age of each tree along with some "fun facts". It was a nice pause before I set off again.

@johnleeinslc 2 ай бұрын

Argh! The Rivian charger is not IN a national park, but 23 miles from the park in what is considered a National Park gateway community. I live in the gateway community for Capitol Reef National Park. We might someday get level 2 charging in national parks, but DCFC simply should not be part of the national park experience. I’m thrilled that Rivian has installed DCFC in Groveland, CA. This is where it belongs, not in the national park itself.

@kjorg9755 2 ай бұрын

And almost 50 miles to Yosemite valley.

@hartfischer5509 2 ай бұрын

Hi John, why not have DCFC in a National Park? There are gas stations in Wawona and Yosemite village. There is electricity for hundreds of houses in Yosemite Valley, ample grid power. I don t want to plug my 200KWH Hummer EV into the camp ground toilet building 110V outlet next to the sink :) Just kidding about the Hummer. Let me know what your argument is against NP DCFC : ) My 550 mile range Cadillac CTS 3.6 barely had enough range for me to fuel up in Fresno, and make it in and out of Yosemite on 1 tank, just 1 drive to Glacier Point, no massive driving in Yosemite. At 300 mile EV range, I have to have a recharge in the park.

@johnleeinslc 2 ай бұрын

@@hartfischer5509, I’ve never been to Wawona. Now seeing how it has dozens of private rental homes available, and plenty of private businesses, it seems that a Supercharger here wouldn’t really add to its developed character. Having private businesses inside a national park isn’t a model I’ve been familiar with. It’s far more typical that communities like West Yellowstone to be outside the park boundaries. West Yellowstone does have and should have a supercharger. Old faithful lodge probably should get some destination chargers, if the existing transmission lines support it. Few if any national park campgrounds have rv full hookups for their campgrounds. I’m generally in favor of less development in national parks. Zion Lodge, inside Zion National Park, does in fact have a couple destination chargers, and yes, I did see a Hummer EV charging there last I passed by it.

@PeaceChanel 2 ай бұрын

Thank You for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste .. 🙏🏻 😊 ✌ ☮ ❤ 🕊

@Chris-xe3xh 2 ай бұрын

I saw a Rivian for the very first time in Yosemite NP. This was three years ago I think. Back then I only saw pictures on the Internet and wasn’t sure if the truck would ever come to market. I was stoked to see it. It looked awesome.

@olebloom1641 2 ай бұрын

That outpost is a great idea.

@BillAnderson1 2 ай бұрын

The EA station just East of there at Buck Meadow is the best EA station I've ever been to. Everything working, Nice, wide spots, right next to a local cafe, battery backed up with a Tesla Mega Pack. Very nice!

@jamesrea329 2 ай бұрын

According to the EA app, the entire site is down right now 😢. That said, I’ve had good luck with EA.

@MarcB707 2 ай бұрын

Been to Yosemite 2x this summer. Rivian chargers in park have been awesome to use. Been eyeing the Wawona station for a while! Used the Tioga pass station day road opened. Was amazed it was active! Would be great to visit groveland station once they allow non-Rivian EVs. Although that ChargePoint station works when needed and EA station also down the road but rough for those towing

@DblOSmith 2 ай бұрын

Neat. I love places like this. I would prioritize places that are set up like gas stations but with a coffee shop instead of convenience store. I also thing it might be a good idea to build based on need. Maybe on the outskirts of parks, a space with car washers, health care station, laundry, etc. would be beneficial.

@bigmahlman 2 ай бұрын

Hope the Rivian network opens up to other brands really soon. What is the hold up?

@Japplesnap 2 ай бұрын

Great video. Love what Rivian is doing. I'm hoping to get a Rivian within a year or two at most.

@MichaelEricMenk 2 ай бұрын

According to a CPO in Norway, large sites needs on average 70kW per stall. They have a number of Kempower sites with 20+ stalles.

@TheJ1s 2 ай бұрын

Either a diner or ice cream parlor is an outpost I'll like to see and had a site that's photogenic to walk around.

@kjorg9755 2 ай бұрын

From someone who’s EV-curious and has no first-hand knowledge of the charging experience, how busy/impacted are the chargers throughout the day? Would there be enough business/interest in a boutique charging center (I.e., warm bodies walking into their convenience store/coffee bar/restaurant stop) to make it a worthwhile investment in the business? It seems that you’d have to move a lot of product to make it profitable.

@kencotton4645 2 ай бұрын

I'm hoping for the adoption of canopies over EV chargers like the ones you see in gas stations, to provide shade and protection from rain. Given the space constrains of a lot of charging locations, anything other than minimal solar in the canopies is not really an option. But if these stations included battery storage, they could capture that minimal energy, plus the batteries could charge during off peak/low load demand times. Then they could use that stored energy to boost charging speeds and take some of the pressure off the grid during high load times.

@mattsimon931 2 ай бұрын

I live in Wisconsin, and another benefit of a canopy would be cover from the snow and ice.

@mattsimon931 2 ай бұрын

I really think this location near me is ideal for exactly what you are describing. Just wish I knew how to explore that as a business idea. Former small car sales shop, on a busy road, with great potential for solar canopy, pull through sites, etc... Maybe Rivian takes suggestions like this for site recommendations. I also completely agree charging sites need amenities, I've never charged at a site that wasn't just at the back of a parking lot. Never charged under a canopy, let alone a solar canopy. Best amenity is an over-flowing garbage can. We can do better.

@aniakmay 2 ай бұрын

We need one of these in West Yellowstone. Heading there this weekend but leaving my R1T at home and taking the Subaru instead. The older Tesla supercharger in West Yellowstone is not available to non Teslas unfortunately. Only a couple of Level 2 chargers in the park and I have to drive to Jackson or Gardiner if I want something better.

@WiltonLiveTV 2 ай бұрын

My nearest DC fast charger is a 50 kW EVgo station with one stall. It’s less than a mile from my home. It’s located at the City Hall.

@Bzzap83 2 ай бұрын

Francie - trying to respond to your question re: local dcfc’s what we like/need? I hardly use local dcfc’s - other than testing ir demonstrating ev charging, I typically only use dcfc on road trips. On roadtrips I prefer EVolveNY and v3 Superchargers whenever they are available! We have a Model Y LR & Mach-E Prem Ex with adapters.

@Bzzap83 2 ай бұрын

For me ideal dcfc are less than 1mi from highway exit & have something like Stewarts Shops or similar with food/drink/wash room and a local restaurant near by.

@louisiglesias9727 2 ай бұрын

Excellent point on finding charging amenities while traveling. Having e- bikes available for local exploration would be a big draw for a charging station.

@billwaterhouse5894 2 ай бұрын

Bathrooms, coffee…an area to stretch your legs and walk the dog, along with an aesthetically pleasing facility is fantastic. However, for me to feel better about my wife stopping at these facilities on her own, safety (very well lit for nighttime), is paramount. My greatest fear are sites be stalked by criminals with bad intentions. It’s just a matter of time. Head on a swivel people and listen to your sixth sense.

@nc3826 2 ай бұрын

The key to profitability is selling amenities. Which adds a great deal of security.. Of course they'll be poorly located charging stations but that will become less and less of a factor. Good luck finding ones that make you feel secure.

@blazure101 2 ай бұрын

Have you road tripped back with the R1T? Any videos or podcasts on your perspectives?

@COSolar6419 2 ай бұрын

There are multiple EV charging site formats that fit different customer needs. This format from Rivian is one of those. It is not likely to be widely replicated but hopefully it finds a niche. What I am really hoping to see from Rivian is the opening of their network to all EVs. Groveland has lots of existing DC fast charging so it not a charging desert. Maybe the EV traffic here warrants it.

@rj8u 2 ай бұрын

Rivian should have put Rivian chargers in most visited National Park already.

@johnpoldo8817 2 ай бұрын

Disappointed there were no pictures or video of inside the building. I wanted to see the amenities. 😟

@RyderNight99 2 ай бұрын

Neat spot but this is gonna be so full when it opens up. Rivian seriously needs to start building sites with more than 6 stalls. I wonder if there’s going to be any kind of priority for Rivian drivers similar to Mercedes and their network with reservations when you route to it

@nc3826 2 ай бұрын

Considering the cost of installing them, be happy with 6.... But hopefully they were smart enough to do some future proofing?

@hartfischer5509 2 ай бұрын

Gee, this is cool. Even I will go there on my next trip to Yosemite, with my Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6, just for the fun of it : ) 300kw shared with 4 stalls, is very slow : (

@milohobo9186 2 ай бұрын

I don't know how many people have charger brand loyalty, but if they do then Rivian might be able to raise rates in other areas to mitigate losses. I always charge at home and have no experience using DCFC stations.

@manuelias86 2 ай бұрын

Great intro!!

@StephenJohnson-jr5hp 2 ай бұрын

Closest? Tesla Super Chargers at a local grocery chain near the interstate. No cover, and a long walk to the bathrooms. Perfect? I guess a BP with fast chargers instead of fuel pumps.

@MrGMawson2438 2 ай бұрын

Cheers Francie

@santiagohills3997 2 ай бұрын

Rivian is incredibly deliberate with its branding. I’d be surprised if they’re in any hurry to open the network to the riff raff. If they stand to collect government cash from opening the network, I’d expect them to hold off until they really need the money. They don’t want to have my Bolt pull up and spend an hour pulling 40 kw.

@anthonyc8499 2 ай бұрын

One of the pain points for Tesla Superchargers is the lack of clarity on where to go for bathrooms.

@NextGenEvs 2 ай бұрын

You should go visit it

@robert5008 2 ай бұрын

We need charging lizards to pass the time away. lol

@kjorg9755 2 ай бұрын

@camarilloconcerns8782 2 ай бұрын

@@kjorg9755This one, I think, was lost in translation. There’s a term, “lot lizard”, which refers to certain women hanging around truck stops in the U.S., offering themselves to truckers looking for companionship. Just a dumb joke in this context.

@tkmedia3866 2 ай бұрын

locally I have 24 DC fast charging sites within 9 miles of me and 11 within 5 miles. We need a larger deployments of slower AC chargers.

@nc3826 2 ай бұрын

It's common sense, that selling amenities is the means to large scale profitability. With properly designed forethought. But long-term, battery swapping is what's truly needed. FWIW it's amusing how battery swapping triggers most people in the West, who just spread misinformation talking points about it.

@MrGMawson2438 2 ай бұрын

13:20 Very true

@CoordinatedCarry 2 ай бұрын

As a recent convert, EVs are sooo much fun. Sure sure I’m helping the planet but it really isn’t a selling point for me. “Fuel” is dirt cheap & EVs are lightning fast. Maintenance is virtually nonexistent.

@kensmith5694 2 ай бұрын

The Rivian is a bit too big for me. Not everyone has an army to take with them. I want an EV that can fit my stuff and go down a dirt road. The nearest fast charging sire to me is a collection of Tesla chargers at the outer edge of a mall parking lot. It is very good for those with a reason to go to that mall. It is also a shortish walk to a nice place to get your breakfast.

@jamespaul2587 2 ай бұрын

The upcoming Rivian R3 may suit your needs, I'm really looking forward to that vehicle. It's more like a large hatchback than a typical SUV

@kensmith5694 2 ай бұрын

@@jamespaul2587 Yes, and I plan to buy something next year. My ICE car has gotten dusty so it needs to be replaced.

@nc3826 2 ай бұрын

Shame there are not EV battery swapping options like in China, especially for long trip, such as going camping.

@kensmith5694 2 ай бұрын

@@nc3826 Battery swapping makes the car heavier and more expensive. I don't see it as a good option really.

@nc3826 2 ай бұрын

@@kensmith5694 Go tell China, the world leader in Battery Technology and Battery swapping.... Western hubris smh.... I no longer try to debunk all the misinformation about battery swapping that's believed in the West (similar to the misinformation about EVs in general).... I came to the realization that the West will be one or two decades behind Asia and China, because of that misinformation and bias.... Where numerous forms of batteries swapping is already playing a significant role... From scooters to large commercial vehicles.... Have fun discovering it in hindsight....

@MickMcGuire 2 ай бұрын

Will any of the Out of Spec peeps do a video at the site? For gasholes that say I can gas up in 5 minutes, I say back how long does it take to drive there 1 or two times a week? How much gas is burned back and forth? It takes me 5 seconds to hook up at my house and charge at night for about $4 for a fill up. 😂

@kubi0461 2 ай бұрын

About 5-10 seconds the time it takes to turn into the gas station drive. Gas stations are everywhere. I've never intentionally driven to fill up. Most of the time I just stop on the way to work or back home.

@MickMcGuire 2 ай бұрын

@@kubi0461 I still have thousands of dollars you don't

@donn5188 2 ай бұрын

This is cool, but can Rivian afford to do this?

@lyfebehyndbars9729 2 ай бұрын

Pull through charge stations. I feel sorry for people with trailers. It’s annoying enough to back in with just a bike hooked up on the back.

@AlwaysLoveBears 2 ай бұрын

You need to do more research before doing the podcasts. Anyone that goes to Yosemite knows that this charger is actually quite far from the entrance to the park. The EA station is much closer to the actual entrance which is around 20 minutes up from Groveland. You also repeat the same info for the whole podcast, which is super annoying..

@johnbaker5533 2 ай бұрын

Rivian has less than 100 locations and less than 600 stalls currently so they are way off their projected 600 locations and 3500 stalls by (end of) 2024. That to me is pretty slow.

@Bzzap83 2 ай бұрын

Unfortunately energy supply companies have more impact on implementation schedule than almost anyone else.

@fourstarcaptain 2 ай бұрын

I have an R1S and the third row is just fine for hauling kids around, which let’s face it is what the third row is for. I have two child seats back there and there is tons of room for them and Adults in the second row. Sure, adults in the third row would be snug, but how many people are actually even trying that for anything more than a short hop. The consistent R1S into small rhetoric is getting a little tiresome from OOS.