Tesla saves Rivian - Mammoth Mountain Edition

[scottie]

When my wife saw the first promo videos for the R1S "Adventure" vehicle cruising up a mountain with ski racks and a truck full of happy passengers, she turned to me and said, "I'm sold."

Fast forward 5 years, I am looking at the R1S range 'snow mode' and the 93 miles left has to last through freezing temps tonight, tomorrow, and then the trip down the mountain to Bishop. Based on the range loss I've seen the past few nights in much warmer weather, I think it will be a pretty close call and I just don't feel comfortable putting my family in that situation.

So, in a blizzard, I jump in the Rivian with my 21" All Seasons and ask Alexa to navigate to the only public J-connector charger in town...a level 2 *Tesla* box at the Mammoth Recreation Center that offers *free* charging.

Rivian navigation decides to take me the long way around on Old Mammoth Rd instead of straight down Meridian ?

I actually tried to charge at this Tesla station earlier in the day, but an R1T was charging at the only box out of 3 that connects successfully.

As I make the turn into the lot, I see a Lucid charging at one of the J-connector boxes that failed me earlier in the day. The Lucid obscures the view to the one charger that worked a few days ago, so as I plow through a foot or two of snow, I am super relieved to see the working box is available.

Thanks, I guess, for the Adventure RJ, I'm super pumped to sit in this parking lot for the next 2 hours. A sincere thanks to Elon for saving the trip by offering a working charging station for a connector you don't even use AND for offering NACS to the rest of the industry (RJ, I was hoping the adapter would be available for this trip...but we all know, by now, the large gap between Rivian product/feature announcement and delivery is really the only thing this company consistently offers).

Sponsored

 

[scottie]

PostScript. I had the time to post that story on the forums because Rivian decided a streaming service isn't a high priority feature. But I'm glad they have been focused on important things like Halloween mode.

 

[Killer95Stang]

First... you could have purchased an A2Z or Lectron adapter before you went to Mammoth and been charging at one of the two Tesla Supercharger locations. Second, the ability to charge at a Supercharger station is controlled by Tesla, not Rivian or Ford. The decision to open up superchargers to the masses has more to do with securing free money from the government for infrastructure grants, over truly just wanting to be the nice guys in the EV world. Last, the approved adapters are supplied by, once again, Tesla, who I'm sure are is super eager to get them out as fast as possible.

I'll be heading up in a couple weeks with a borrowed Lectron from Rivian employee neighbor. I hope everything works out for the both of us.

 

[scottie]

First... you could have purchased an A2Z or Lectron adapter before you went to Mammoth and been charging at one of the two Tesla Supercharger locations. Second, the ability to charge at a Supercharger station is controlled by Tesla, not Rivian or Ford. The decision to open up superchargers to the masses has more to do with securing free money from the government for infrastructure grants, over truly just wanting to be the nice guys in the EV world. Last, the approved adapters are supplied by, once again, Tesla, who I'm sure are is super eager to get them out as fast as possible.

I'll be heading up in a couple weeks with a borrowed Lectron from Rivian employee neighbor. I hope everything works out for the both of us.

Not everyone is friends with Rivian employees and I must have missed that part of the promo video...
Step 1: Be one of the first people in the world to order a non-OEM adapter that the guides say might brick your battery and Rivian won't cover replacement

Silly me.

Glad we agree, Tesla is saving Rivian.

 

[jjswan33]

It really doesn't take more than 30-40 miles of range to make it down to Bishop, it's mostly down hill.

All that said I don't understand the praise for Tesla, they installed 3 J1772 connectors and 1 is working, the same condition it was in months ago when I was last there?

 

[VSG]

Rivian helps those who help themselves.

Next time, I recommend you book a place that has a charger so you don't have to deal with your anxiety. Or just bring an extension cord and get >25 miles of range from a 120V socket overnight.

Isn't it worth a few dollars more (if that) to get what you need rather than sit around in the middle of the night trying to slow charge at a free charger?

Yes, Tesla Destination Chargers are useful. But thank the place that bought them and is paying for the electricity. Tesla sold them chargers on the idea that providing free charging would gain them business, so thank those places by giving them business. Last time I used a Tesla Destination Charger it was essential to my travel plans, and that's why I booked a room at the hotel that had the Tesla Destination Charger. I got a stress-free charging experience, they got an overnight customer.

Point is, for the most part you can avoid these situations with a little prior planning. Glad it worked out for you eventually, but it seems to me you made it harder than it had to be.

 

[Supratachophobia]

I fear this will continue to haunt Rivian: "The large gap between Rivian product/feature announcement and delivery is really the only thing this company consistently offers."

 

[scottie]

It really doesn't take more than 30-40 miles of range to make it down to Bishop, it's mostly down hill.

All that said I don't understand the praise for Tesla, they installed 3 J1772 connectors and 1 is working, the same condition it was in months ago when I was last there?

At least 2/3 are working because a Lucid is charging at a separate box, but I believe you that only 1/3 works with Rivian.

 

[jjswan33]

At least 2/3 are working because a Lucid is charging at a separate box, but I believe you that only 1/3 works with Rivian.

Can't say I know either, just inferred it from your description. When I was there a Rivian next to me plugged in (I assume successfully charging). I couldn't get either of the other two to work.

 

[Riviot]

Whiny bickering aside, are we going to gloss over this nugget?

I'll be heading up in a couple weeks with a borrowed Lectron from Rivian employee neighbor. I hope everything works out for the both of us.

Is that provided by their employer? Or are they confident enough in Lectron to use it?

 

[Killer95Stang]

You

Whiny bickering aside, are we going to gloss over this nugget?



Is that provided by their employer? Or are they confident enough in Lectron to use it?

He told me they tested both and had no issues with either.... but the official stance is that any damages incurred using an unapproved adapter, will not be covered under the warranty. Since even as a test engineer he couldn't even get one of the Rivian supplied adapters, he went ahead and acquired an aftermarket unit. Not sure if he actually bought it, or it was one that was being kicked around the shop. He travels almost every weekend with test vehicles and his own personal R1T. He rolls the dice just like everyone else.

 

[seatosummit]

Main Lodge to Bishop consumes about 5-9% in all purpose due to the substantial decent.

Mammoth sucks with public DCFC--its hard to believe they have two Tesla superchargers but nothing CCS.

 

[Will0077]

I bet these adapters will be on the same release schedule as the camp kitchen, the monthly data plan billing, the tonneau cover replacements, and scheduling a service visit at El Segundo.

 

[SoCal Rob]

PostScript. I had the time to post that story on the forums because Rivian decided a streaming service isn't a high priority feature. But I'm glad they have been focused on important things like Halloween mode.

If only the device which you used to post allowed you to access other content on the Internet.

Wait, I bet it does!

Seriously, your post history is almost entirely negative about Rivian. I’m surprised that you purchased one while being almost universally negative about the company. Why not do something positive and post a picture of your Rivian in the mountains?

 

[R1Sky Business]

The topic titles keep getting more creative

Sponsored