As a Rivian (and model S) owner, this is a bit depressing. I would not add 5 hours to my road trip just to be able to take my Rivian. I will keep an ICE vehicle in the garage until EA, EVgo and others can catch up to Tesla and provide the necessary number of FUNCTIONAL DC fast chargers. Good luck on the trip!
Have contingencies. Seriously. The EA network in Utah is worse than useless. The 8 chargers in SLC are typically 6 dead and two capped at 35kW. The four in Wendover are normally two dead and two capped at 45kW. Seriously. You cannot road trip in Utah right now because of the horrendous issues with the EA network here.
We didn't have any problems with the EA stations in Utah, except in Green River where I had to try three chargers to get it to work right. But, it worked. Thx
I love that taco place. It’s like the gas station just died and the taco truck just stayed behind. Is the Grand Junction charger open? We didn’t stop. It’s a long way from the freeway.
@@RivianDad Just the concrete pedestals and conduit so far, right beside the superchargers at Mesa mall. We stopped at the taco place coming back from the maze in October; pretty interesting!
Im really interested to see how the EA system works out in the summer, I roadtrip a lot in my Tesla and it seems like in the summer there are 3 times as many people charging compared to late fall through early spring. With all the EVs being sold right now the chargers might become overcrowded in the summer. This last summer I pulled up to a Tesla supercharger with all 16 spots filled(waited only 3-4 mins, 1 person waiting before me when I pulled up). With EA only having 4 chargers per location this could turn out bad if you show up at the wrong time.
We experienced this in LA this summer. And, surprisingly all the EA chargers in Spanish Fork Utah were full (if you count one that was down). It is definitely a choke point in the travel. But oddly kind of a fun puzzle too!
What an awesome trip! I look forward to DC fast chargers along US 50 across Nevada to avoid Interstate 80 and Las Vegas. I know that if one is staying overnight that there are many RV campgrounds with NEMA 14-50 outlets.
Yeah. We decided to go the longer route mainly to see family. Plus, traveling as a solo adult with 2 young kids, I don’t like to take any chances! Thanks.
Not only possible, but I would say that was the most comfortable drive we’ve had on that route! Turns out that smooth-driving vehicles make for a lot less stress when driving.
322 extra miles!? Pass. There aren’t ANY chargers on the fast route or just none that are fast enough? I’d be driving the gas car before adding 10+ hours and 650 extra miles…kinda kills the environmental benefits too. 🤷♂️
With one well-placed charger in central Nevada (I'm lookin at you Ely, NV) the whole equation would change. For us it worked out ok because we stayed with family in SLC and Truckee. On the way back, we did save three hours by going through Ely, which worked, but could easily have not worked. It was still worth taking the Rivian anyway, and proof positive that long EV road trips do work. As the networks add stations, these pain points will go away. Thx
Just from range perspective, options 2 seems very doable (otherwise what's the point of 300 miles range). Also twisty roads means you'll probably be driving slower. If you stay at a hotel in Vegas with charger you can also top off the battery and drive at the speed limit (or little lower) to increase the range. I have never owned an EV (my R1S is on the way), but even on my gas car I found I can get about 10% better highway range when I stay within the speed limit.
You’re correct, that section was probably doable, but enough of a stretch that I didn’t want to attempt it. Plus, I’m not kidding about that windy road bit. It’s pretty bad. Note, though, that 300 miles range is a best case. Throw in the less efficient tires and some headwinds and you’re looking at 280 pretty easily. Add in cold weather and… you get the picture. Traveling with kids especially I didn’t want to risk it. Plus I wanted to hit the charger in Truckee anyway. Thx for commenting!
If you had a gas vehicle that got 24 miles to the gallon you would not only have saved those hours of travel but your fuel cost/electricity cost would have been lower. I really like the Rivian but have yet to see anybody make mention about the sound system.
…and we would have emitted plenty of exhaust in a much less efficient vehicle, but yes that’s true. I also drive on electricity that costs very little when charging at home for almost all of my driving and never have to go to a gas station, so it does even out over time. The sound system is very good, especially in the R1T which sounds better IMO probably because of the smaller cabin. Thx.
This is the current problem with CCS1 EV'S. A Tesla does not have that problem. I have a Tesla Model Y and I git the new CCS1 adapter so I'm set. Rivian should Add the NACS connector to the passenger front and they could use the Tesla Superchargers. Or Tesla needs an adapter. Tesla to CCS1.? I think most of the blank areas lacking CCS1 will be filled in, in 2023....
@@RivianDad Sorry, I don't believe you know what you are talking about. Their is NO Adapter going from the NACS - Tesla connector to a CCS1 connector for DC fast charging. The ONLY adapter is Tesla level 1 and 2 AC charging up to 19.2 kw AC to J1772. So your wait for "Musk" will be a very long wait indeed. If you in FACT have a Tesla - NACS DC to CCS1 DC adapter please email me a link as I do try to stay informed. I only want to believe things that are true. I guess you know about ABRP and charge point to find charging location. I fid not check but i thought that route was do able with out a 5 hour detour! The Rivian does have good highway range around 70 to 75 maximum. Longer gaps, just slow down to 60 or 65 should do it. Better DC fast charging for all in 2023.
@@davidws5439 Thx for the info. I guess I mean the adapter for the Tesla waypoint chargers. Still waiting for the Tesla SC network to be opened and I'll find the proper adapter. As I've said, a couple of well-placed chargers would do the trick for that stretch. But for us, the extra stops in SLC and Truckee were fine. We did go back through middle NV on the way home since my wife was with us on the way back and I would not want to get stuck with two kids but without her. The charger in Ely overcharged us and took an hour just to get enough to get us to Wendover, so it worked, but not as smoothly as I hoped.
@@RivianDad Hi, the Tesla to J1772 adapter works now and has for years on level 2 chargers like the ones at hotels and motels and mose are 11.5 to 16 kw. The Rivian can take a maximum of 11.5 kw. Rivian should have installed a 19.2 kw L2 AC charger do to the battery size. Rivian also should have nema 5-20 120 volt 20 amp plugs and not the nema 5-15 120 volt 15 amp plugs and should have one 240 volt 32 to 50 amp plug to help as a backup or boondocking- camping. Goodnight. Enjoy your beautiful Rivian. I have stock and want them to do well.
@@RivianDad looking forward to watching the next video! We are a family of 5 and are expecting our R1S to be delivered next year. So I love watching all these videos you post.. very informative! Thank you!
If you have enough charge, you could slide on to the next stop. But the wait is usually pretty short so, unless the next stop is very close, it often makes more sense to just wait. It hasn’t happened to me before actually. But I imagine it has to others. I’ve had a couple of times when all of the 350 kW chargers were full or maybe one was broken, but the 150 was open. Also, usually the people who are charging are willing to shift around to accommodate. It hasn’t been a problem for me. I did, however have to wait for a tesla charger in California once with a Tesla. But only for a few minutes.
WoW.....10 hours more....That will work cut into my holiday OFF days. Or i would have to take an extra day off!.....That will cost me lot of $$$ and time. Wife will not be happy Too.
We weren’t sure where we were going to stop and finding a hotel in Wendover with a charger was not easy last minute. But even still, we’d have to stop at some fast chargers along the way. We could have charged overnight in Truckee where we stayed, but the RAN stop was free so we used that!
Also, we did stop overnight on the way back in Grand Junction at a Marriott with a Chargepoint charger. Got 6kW for only part of the night. It was ok, but we started with only 50% charge or so. Enough to get to the fast charger at Glenwood Springs.
Conserve mostly. I did use all purpose for a couple of sections. I should have kept better track of that, but I’ll chalk that up as just one too many things to keep track of. Or just plain forgot. Thx.
It was fine, but I don't love using it. I love the adaptive cruise, but I'm more comfortable steering rather than letting the truck to it. Feels a little too jerky and a bit stressful so defeats the purpose IMO.
As a Rivian (and model S) owner, this is a bit depressing. I would not add 5 hours to my road trip just to be able to take my Rivian. I will keep an ICE vehicle in the garage until EA, EVgo and others can catch up to Tesla and provide the necessary number of FUNCTIONAL DC fast chargers. Good luck on the trip!
Thanks! Honestly, just one charger strategically placed would wipe out that extra five hours. I’d start with Ely Nevada.
Have contingencies. Seriously. The EA network in Utah is worse than useless. The 8 chargers in SLC are typically 6 dead and two capped at 35kW. The four in Wendover are normally two dead and two capped at 45kW. Seriously. You cannot road trip in Utah right now because of the horrendous issues with the EA network here.
We didn't have any problems with the EA stations in Utah, except in Green River where I had to try three chargers to get it to work right. But, it worked. Thx
That taco place in Green River is great! The RAN station in Grand Junction by the mall is making slow progress!
I love that taco place. It’s like the gas station just died and the taco truck just stayed behind. Is the Grand Junction charger open? We didn’t stop. It’s a long way from the freeway.
@@RivianDad Just the concrete pedestals and conduit so far, right beside the superchargers at Mesa mall. We stopped at the taco place coming back from the maze in October; pretty interesting!
Hopefully those gaps will be filled soon by Rivian or EA, but glad to see there are still ways to get from A to B! Looking forward to the next video!
We did take a slightly different route home, cutting through Nevada, since there is a 50kw charger in Ely. It worked, but just barely. Need more.
Great video. It was awesome to meet you! Happy thanksgiving and safe travels.
You too! Thx again for making the trek. Meetup soon?!
Nice surprise the Truckee RAN came online just in time for your trip. I’m in Truckee now sorry I missed your drive through.
Just leaving!! Would have loved to meet you!!
Are you in a launch green R1T. Maybe we just passed you?!
Excellent video, Scott! Thanks so much. Very instructive and helpful. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Thanks!
Im really interested to see how the EA system works out in the summer, I roadtrip a lot in my Tesla and it seems like in the summer there are 3 times as many people charging compared to late fall through early spring. With all the EVs being sold right now the chargers might become overcrowded in the summer. This last summer I pulled up to a Tesla supercharger with all 16 spots filled(waited only 3-4 mins, 1 person waiting before me when I pulled up). With EA only having 4 chargers per location this could turn out bad if you show up at the wrong time.
We experienced this in LA this summer. And, surprisingly all the EA chargers in Spanish Fork Utah were full (if you count one that was down). It is definitely a choke point in the travel. But oddly kind of a fun puzzle too!
What an awesome trip! I look forward to DC fast chargers along US 50 across Nevada to avoid Interstate 80 and Las Vegas. I know that if one is staying overnight that there are many RV campgrounds with NEMA 14-50 outlets.
Yeah. We decided to go the longer route mainly to see family. Plus, traveling as a solo adult with 2 young kids, I don’t like to take any chances! Thanks.
@@RivianDad You definitely made the smartest moves possible.
@@RivianDad We’ll be going through Bishop on Sunday, taking 395 back to San Francisco from Los Angeles.
@@mitchellbarnow1709 sorry we missed you!
Awesome video proving the EV road trip is possible! Also, great to meet you in Truckee!
Not only possible, but I would say that was the most comfortable drive we’ve had on that route! Turns out that smooth-driving vehicles make for a lot less stress when driving.
322 extra miles!? Pass. There aren’t ANY chargers on the fast route or just none that are fast enough? I’d be driving the gas car before adding 10+ hours and 650 extra miles…kinda kills the environmental benefits too. 🤷♂️
With one well-placed charger in central Nevada (I'm lookin at you Ely, NV) the whole equation would change. For us it worked out ok because we stayed with family in SLC and Truckee. On the way back, we did save three hours by going through Ely, which worked, but could easily have not worked. It was still worth taking the Rivian anyway, and proof positive that long EV road trips do work. As the networks add stations, these pain points will go away. Thx
Just from range perspective, options 2 seems very doable (otherwise what's the point of 300 miles range). Also twisty roads means you'll probably be driving slower. If you stay at a hotel in Vegas with charger you can also top off the battery and drive at the speed limit (or little lower) to increase the range. I have never owned an EV (my R1S is on the way), but even on my gas car I found I can get about 10% better highway range when I stay within the speed limit.
You’re correct, that section was probably doable, but enough of a stretch that I didn’t want to attempt it. Plus, I’m not kidding about that windy road bit. It’s pretty bad. Note, though, that 300 miles range is a best case. Throw in the less efficient tires and some headwinds and you’re looking at 280 pretty easily. Add in cold weather and… you get the picture. Traveling with kids especially I didn’t want to risk it. Plus I wanted to hit the charger in Truckee anyway. Thx for commenting!
@@RivianDad If you have AT tire then it make sense. I also have two kids and maybe in such situation I'd make the same call! :)
If you had a gas vehicle that got 24 miles to the gallon you would not only have saved those hours of travel but your fuel cost/electricity cost would have been lower. I really like the Rivian but have yet to see anybody make mention about the sound system.
…and we would have emitted plenty of exhaust in a much less efficient vehicle, but yes that’s true. I also drive on electricity that costs very little when charging at home for almost all of my driving and never have to go to a gas station, so it does even out over time.
The sound system is very good, especially in the R1T which sounds better IMO probably because of the smaller cabin.
Thx.
This is the current problem with CCS1 EV'S. A Tesla does not have that problem. I have a Tesla Model Y and I git the new CCS1 adapter so I'm set.
Rivian should Add the NACS connector to the passenger front and they could use the Tesla Superchargers. Or Tesla needs an adapter. Tesla to CCS1.? I think most of the blank areas lacking CCS1 will be filled in, in 2023....
As of now, Tesla superchargers are software locked. I have an adapter, waiting for Musk.
@@RivianDad Sorry, I don't believe you know what you are talking about. Their is NO Adapter going from the NACS - Tesla connector to a CCS1 connector for DC fast charging. The ONLY adapter is Tesla level 1 and 2 AC charging up to 19.2 kw AC to J1772. So your wait for "Musk" will be a very long wait indeed. If you in FACT have a Tesla - NACS DC to CCS1 DC adapter please email me a link as I do try to stay informed. I only want to believe things that are true. I guess you know about ABRP and charge point to find charging location. I fid not check but i thought that route was do able with out a 5 hour detour! The Rivian does have good highway range around 70 to 75 maximum. Longer gaps, just slow down to 60 or 65 should do it. Better DC fast charging for all in 2023.
@@davidws5439 Thx for the info. I guess I mean the adapter for the Tesla waypoint chargers. Still waiting for the Tesla SC network to be opened and I'll find the proper adapter. As I've said, a couple of well-placed chargers would do the trick for that stretch. But for us, the extra stops in SLC and Truckee were fine. We did go back through middle NV on the way home since my wife was with us on the way back and I would not want to get stuck with two kids but without her. The charger in Ely overcharged us and took an hour just to get enough to get us to Wendover, so it worked, but not as smoothly as I hoped.
@@RivianDad Hi, the Tesla to J1772 adapter works now and has for years on level 2 chargers like the ones at hotels and motels and mose are 11.5 to 16 kw. The Rivian can take a maximum of 11.5 kw. Rivian should have installed a 19.2 kw L2 AC charger do to the battery size. Rivian also should have nema 5-20 120 volt 20 amp plugs and not the nema 5-15 120 volt 15 amp plugs and should have one 240 volt 32 to 50 amp plug to help as a backup or boondocking- camping. Goodnight. Enjoy your beautiful Rivian. I have stock and want them to do well.
So you never said anything.... which wheels are better? 20" or 22"?
Great video. Would love to know the cost at each charger and how long you charged for.
Thanks! Yes. I’ll be putting that in the next video once I collect my notes. Might be a few days before I can get that. Thanks for watching!
@@RivianDad looking forward to watching the next video! We are a family of 5 and are expecting our R1S to be delivered next year. So I love watching all these videos you post.. very informative! Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
@@jambaman916 you will love your R1S- it's a great family car. The third row is a game changer.
What do you do if you get to a charging station and they are all full? How long does it need to charge? Do you just wait till there's a open spot?
If you have enough charge, you could slide on to the next stop. But the wait is usually pretty short so, unless the next stop is very close, it often makes more sense to just wait. It hasn’t happened to me before actually. But I imagine it has to others. I’ve had a couple of times when all of the 350 kW chargers were full or maybe one was broken, but the 150 was open. Also, usually the people who are charging are willing to shift around to accommodate. It hasn’t been a problem for me. I did, however have to wait for a tesla charger in California once with a Tesla. But only for a few minutes.
WoW.....10 hours more....That will work cut into my holiday OFF days. Or i would have to take an extra day off!.....That will cost me lot of $$$ and time. Wife will not be happy Too.
Good video but why not stop for a night and L2 ?
We weren’t sure where we were going to stop and finding a hotel in Wendover with a charger was not easy last minute. But even still, we’d have to stop at some fast chargers along the way. We could have charged overnight in Truckee where we stayed, but the RAN stop was free so we used that!
Also, we did stop overnight on the way back in Grand Junction at a Marriott with a Chargepoint charger. Got 6kW for only part of the night. It was ok, but we started with only 50% charge or so. Enough to get to the fast charger at Glenwood Springs.
What tool are you using to explore these routes?
PlugShare is really helpful, plus Electrify America’s site directly. That plus good ol’ Google Maps.
Others swear by ABRP but I find it a little hard to use.
What drive mode are you using the most for the big highway stretches? Conserve or All-Purpose?
Conserve mostly. I did use all purpose for a couple of sections. I should have kept better track of that, but I’ll chalk that up as just one too many things to keep track of. Or just plain forgot. Thx.
@@RivianDad I appreciate the info. Great video.
How was Driver+ for your road trip?
It was fine, but I don't love using it. I love the adaptive cruise, but I'm more comfortable steering rather than letting the truck to it. Feels a little too jerky and a bit stressful so defeats the purpose IMO.
Buy a Tesla man
try this in a Tesla: ua-cam.com/video/nD7NvEzzkJA/v-deo.html