Rivian should have partnered with Tesla

[Taco]

*Would NEVER happen because Jeff and Elon beef*

However I think when Rivian started planning the car they should have partnered with Tesla to use the supercharger network and plug. Yes for the reason above it would never happen after Amazon money but I think it would have been a GREAT package for both companies.

1. Rivian would already have a GREAT charging network right out of the gate / in MOST cases the cable would be long enough to support the trucks and cars pulled in (wrong side but workable from the other stall - Changes would have to be done with cables but that would be done over time.
2. Tesla would get more Supercharger / RAN network connections in state parks
   1. Tesla could focus on the long routes and Rivian focus on the state parks / get aways
   2. Both could share the cost of ubran deployments
3. Both companies focus on being green - Sure the products at SOME point would overlap but today it would complement eachother.

Just my thoughts - But I also think EA is kinda crap when you look at charging rates and limited to 150kW on the EA 350s.

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[OverZealous]

Yeah, pretty sure they tried to do this, but Tesla doesn't really like to play with others. They just give lip service to the idea.

But I do remember some tweets about Rivian wanting to partner (and pay) for access to the supercharger network.

TBH, even though I like the size & shape of the Tesla plug better, having the agreed-upon-standard J1772/CCS1 plug means that in the near future, there will be more options for charging your Rivian (and there's going to be actual competition for your money). It might still take a few more years, but Tesla won't always have the most/best/whatever charging locations.

 

[crashmtb]

Disagree. Rivian is led by engineers. Tesla has someone who thinks they know better than everyone running the show. Tesla gets things done on the backs of and at the expense of tonnes of brilliant people. their success is despite Elon musk.

 

[COdogman]

I can’t even imagine attempting to work WITH someone like Elon Musk. He truly seems like one of the most aggressively annoying people walking the earth.

 

[manitou202]

*Would NEVER happen because Jeff and Elon beef*

However I think when Rivian started planning the car they should have partnered with Tesla to use the supercharger network and plug. Yes for the reason above it would never happen after Amazon money but I think it would have been a GREAT package for both companies.

1. Rivian would already have a GREAT charging network right out of the gate / in MOST cases the cable would be long enough to support the trucks and cars pulled in (wrong side but workable from the other stall - Changes would have to be done with cables but that would be done over time.
2. Tesla would get more Supercharger / RAN network connections in state parks
   1. Tesla could focus on the long routes and Rivian focus on the state parks / get aways
   2. Both could share the cost of ubran deployments
3. Both companies focus on being green - Sure the products at SOME point would overlap but today it would complement eachother.

Just my thoughts - But I also think EA is kinda crap when you look at charging rates and limited to 150kW on the EA 350s.

Keep in mind the majority of Tesla Super Chargers are limited to 150kW. The way third party chargers are growing, Tesla's network will be overtaken shortly. Plus most of the Tesla Superchargers are along major highways, and not in remote areas. Colorado is the perfect example. As a result Tesla's are limited to using the Chademo adapter and 50kW in remote locations of Colorado.

Rivian would have been better off if they had pursued the 800V architecture from the start. This would have been a bigger advantage compared to working with Tesla.

 

[NY_Rob]

Keep in mind, Rivian poached.. er.. hired a lot of current and former Tesla employees and have co-opted much of UI and other design elements from Tesla so I'm sure their relationship is not so good at this point. IIRC, Tesla is suing Rivian over several IP's that somehow (gee what a surprise!) ended up in Rivian vehicles.

 

[Taco]

Keep in mind the majority of Tesla Super Chargers are limited to 150kW. The way third party chargers are growing, Tesla's network will be overtaken shortly. Plus most of the Tesla Superchargers are along major highways, and not in remote areas. Colorado is the perfect example. As a result Tesla's are limited to using the Chademo adapter and 50kW in remote locations of Colorado.

Rivian would have been better off if they had pursued the 800V architecture from the start. This would have been a bigger advantage compared to working with Tesla.

100% agree they should have started out with 800v once the writing was on the wall. 2018 400v ok but already signs that needed to be 800v.

 

[Inkedsphynx]

Given their siting supply issues and lack of off-the-shelf hardware for 800v architecture components, I'd hazard a guess that if they had moved to 800v there would be far fewer deliveries going on and all of us would have our windows pushed out even more.

I would have liked 800v, but I think I can live with the 400v for the life of the vehicle. Maybe there'll even be options to update it down the road - I'd love to see vehicles go that route where possible.

 

[rhuber]

Disagree. Rivian is led by engineers. Tesla has someone who thinks they know better than everyone running the show. Tesla gets things done on the backs of and at the expense of tonnes of brilliant people. their success is despite Elon musk.

I say this after owning four Teslas, still two currently:

The Model X is what you get when Elon is involved. (yikes)
The Model Y is what you get when Elon is not involved. (yay)

 

[Taycanfrank]

This was never an option for Rivian so not sure how you think they "should have".

They couldn't. Wasn't an option. It's like saying I should levitate to work instead of driving.

 

[ads75]

You could pretty much make the same argument for Tesla and any other manufacturer, other than the state park chargers, but really anyone can do those.

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