Will I be the only Rivian in New England?

[lostpacket]

Looking forward to seeing some of you early preorders take delivery!

I am going to be in Boston in early May and going to swing by the service center to see the progress. Seems like it has a ways to go based on y'alls reports (thank you for those!)

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[jwardell]

I finally had a chance to drive over to the Chelsea service center, hoping to finally see a truck for the first time, but no dice. Several were working on the building though and it is definitely coming along, plenty of nice lifts inside!

 

[lostpacket]

You rock @jwardell thanks for the update! Definitely making progress

 

[Sts9fan]

I’m in Newton MA. Preordered Feb19. Black on black R1S. Had my guide assigned on Friday with the April/May window.

 

[TheIglu]

I'll be right down the road (PreFlight Parking) on Sunday, so I may drive over and see the progress at the service location.

Reading on here of other non-launch edition trucks spec'd the same as mine, ordered after mine, being told of impending delivery has me thinking once this service location opens up, we'll start seeing a lot more deliveries in New England, and hopefully I'll be getting my truck early!

 

[ShrinkDoc]

I'm primarily in Arlington, MA but try to spend as much time as possible in our cabin in the NEK of VT. Was just up there this past weekend and envious of all of you early preorder holders. Couldn't stop dreaming of plowing through the mud in a new Rivian. I'll be living vicariously through all of you while I wait for my R1S preordered in Jan '22. Wish I had the foresight to do it sooner.

Admittedly, I've been waffling a bit lately on switching to an R1T -- not because I will (possibly) get it sooner, but just love everything I am seeing and reading about it. Only concern for me is where to put our two dogs when my wife and 2 teens are in the truck.

 

[tscanjr]

I’m in Newton MA. Preordered Feb19. Black on black R1S. Had my guide assigned on Friday with the April/May window.

it's getting real! Congrats ( no jinx)

 

[lostpacket]

in case anyone missed it, R1T LE holder from Boston had a call with their guide and posted on reddit:

One tidbit he mentioned that might interest other New England reservation holders is that they expect the Boston service center (located in Chelsea) to be open by the end of month.

link to reddit thread

 

[Sts9fan]

Guide call tomorrow!

 

[SomervilleR1T]

Guide call tomorrow!

@Sts9fan …Its Friday, how did the call with your guide go?

 

[Sts9fan]

@Sts9fan …Its Friday, how did the call with your guide go?

The call went well but not a ton of info as others have stated. He did say none of his customers have passed 90 days post contact without delivery. Also that delivery in MA is a bit of a PITA but he has it under control. Was really just a meet and greet. He did mention that the factory is filling up with R1S!

 

[Brookliner]

Also that delivery in MA is a bit of a PITA but he has it under control.

So… this brings up a thought I’ve been kicking around. How do we get RJ’s attention? How do we make New England’s wilderness more accessible? This is not a call to belly-ache but one to get a crowd fired up.

I’ve never thought of New England as a minor part of America’s great outdoors. Yet, despite RJ’s time at MIT, this region seems an after thought to Rivian. How do we get his attention and, similarly, but separately, how do we get more towns to set up reliable EVSE?

I wrote to Rivian several times about its product testing and launch plans noting that New England was featured seemingly not at all; certainly not in its videos. All hope from assurances sent faded when I saw Rivian’s DC charging map last year.

Assessing Rivian’s plan for Level 3 chargers in our area isn’t straightforward (for me anyway). Their plan seems to have a net benefit of only two more fast-charger-served areas — Franconia-Lincoln area and (what might about 40 miles from) Baxter State Park guessing from their map. Level 2 chargers aren’t much better. Compare Rivian’s map to these screenshots from ChargeHub (a Canadian alternative to PlugShare). This will change if and when Tesla opens its Superchargers to others.

Level 3

Level 2

Here’s what I’ve done (without much luck) so far. I looked at creating a business out of 50kw chargers; not great but happy to share my experience. I’ve written to Rivian and inn keepers, restauranteurs, ski lodges and others about installing at least 19kw level 2 chargers. I keep an 80-foot extension cord in my trunk which I’ve run from a window to my car at a ski lodge in Lincoln, NH. Oh, and I installed a 30 amp level 2 charger at my folks’ house in Lewiston, ME; I use their home as launch point for trips into Maine’s wilderness (which my mother loves ‘cause she gets to see her son and granddaughter more regularly).

If you’re curious, I have a 2022 Taycan which averages about 230 miles at 100% charge.

Has anyone else in this group been thinking or acting on this? Is there a concerted effort we can make?

 

[Sts9fan]

I have been concerned with travel in the Rivian compared to my Tesla. The super chargers are just so easy. I have a 30amp level2 in Newton and Sanbornton NH. Still heading up to VT or ME makes me think you need to plan for a fast charger. With Tesla I barely plan on where to charge. Obviously these things will change in the coming years.

 

[jwardell]

in case anyone missed it, R1T LE holder from Boston had a call with their guide and posted on reddit:



link to reddit thread

Super excited to hear this!

So… this brings up a thought I’ve been kicking around. How do we get RJ’s attention? How do we make New England’s wilderness more accessible? This is not a call to belly-ache but one to get a crowd fired up.

I’ve never thought of New England as a minor part of America’s great outdoors. Yet, despite RJ’s time at MIT, this region seems an after thought to Rivian. How do we get his attention and, similarly, but separately, how do we get more towns to set up reliable EVSE?

I wrote to Rivian several times about its product testing and launch plans noting that New England was featured seemingly not at all; certainly not in its videos. All hope from assurances sent faded when I saw Rivian’s DC charging map last year.

Assessing Rivian’s plan for Level 3 chargers in our area isn’t straightforward (for me anyway). Their plan seems to have a net benefit of only two more fast-charger-served areas — Franconia-Lincoln area and (what might about 40 miles from) Baxter State Park guessing from their map. Level 2 chargers aren’t much better. Compare Rivian’s map to these screenshots from ChargeHub (a Canadian alternative to PlugShare). This will change if and when Tesla opens its Superchargers to others.

Level 3

Level 2

Here’s what I’ve done (without much luck) so far. I looked at creating a business out of 50kw chargers; not great but happy to share my experience. I’ve written to Rivian and inn keepers, restauranteurs, ski lodges and others about installing at least 19kw level 2 chargers. I keep an 80-foot extension cord in my trunk which I’ve run from a window to my car at a ski lodge in Lincoln, NH. Oh, and I installed a 30 amp level 2 charger at my folks’ house in Lewiston, ME; I use their home as launch point for trips into Maine’s wilderness (which my mother loves ‘cause she gets to see her son and granddaughter more regularly).

If you’re curious, I have a 2022 Taycan which averages about 230 miles at 100% charge.

Has anyone else in this group been thinking or acting on this? Is there a concerted effort we can make?

Yeah, CCS charging coverage SUCKS in New England, and the few that are there do not have nearly enough stalls (if they are even functioning). EA or someone else needs to get on top of things fast.
OR the best would be for Tesla to open Superchargers to CCS.

 

[cc4711]

There's a R1T cruising around western MA (blue with BM interior I suppose) and few others in the area got guide contacts, so New England is getting more and more represented.

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