Charging: RAN, Tesla SC or Electrify America?

[Hauser37]

Just would like input from Rivian owners which you prefer for road trips? I owned a Tesla in the past and have a R1T on order and should get it in the next 4 weeks. Would thereby others you prefer to the three mentioned?Thanks

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[COdogman]

Depending on where you travel, it is entirely your preference. There are folks here who only use Tesla because of the reliability and the cost is typically lower. Others (myself included) will only use Tesla as a last resort.

Not enough RAN out there to only rely on their chargers, but for the most part they are reliable. Price is often higher than other networks.

EA is often clogged up with all the brands who gave away free charging, and seem to have more reliability issues vs. the other networks.

I mostly travel in CO and I have Chargepoint, Circle K Charge, EA, Tesla, Rivian, and EVgo set up at all times. EVgo has a decent network around here.

 

[shamoo]

Here's my long answer for a relatively simple question.

My day to day driving is always less than what a day's charge provides so I never have to charge outside of home (I have solar/L2 charger). In the 2.5 years I've had my R1S I think I've charged on public chargers maybe 3-4 times, all those times being longer trips where I'd charge once going there and once back.

Since I don't want to stress myself out over finding the cheapest charger, finding out it doesn't work, going to another one, delaying my trip, etc I go to what's easy. That's going to be RAN and/or Tesla. Before I got my adapter/Tesla opened up their Superchargers, it was a massive pain to go to unreliable chargers like EA, ChargePoint, EVGo, etc. 75% of the time they were full, didn't work, or I had to set up another app/account.

The cost doesn't concern me because I charge publicly so rarely. What's another $10-15 and no headache when I'm on a family trip? I park in one of the numerous available charging spots, plug in in 5 seconds, charging starts a few seconds later without the need for apps/creating accounts, and I'm free to sit in the car, go eat, or walk around.

EDIT: Between RAN vs. Tesla, if they are in the same area, I obviously choose what's cheaper. Used to be RAN but nowadays it is sometimes double that of Tesla. The Tesla parking is sometimes a bit wonky due to the location of the charger/cable length but there's always space usually.

 

[emoore]

I'll stop at a RAN first if there is one available. I want to support Rivian and their clean energy. Tesla is a close second. EA if its the only option.

 

[SANZC02]

Just would like input from Rivian owners which you prefer for road trips? I owned a Tesla in the past and have a R1T on order and should get it in the next 4 weeks. Would thereby others you prefer to the three mentioned?Thanks

Those are the 3 I primarily use. In my last trip, it was > 7k miles I paid for the Tesla and EA memberships. They both pay for themselves in around 100 kWh. I have had good experiences at all 3 so the preference was strictly cost based, I never went out of my way but using ABRP when planning picked the charge locations based on cost.

Here was my cost breakdown.

EA membership was $7, Tesla was $12.99, only paid one month for each, the membership cost is added into the averages below.

Charges		Total kWh​	avg price​	Total Cost​
45​	totals​	3,238.8124​	0.38​	1,215.05​
​
35​	Tesla	2,387.2150​	0.35​	840.56​
6​	EA	392.4923​	0.46​	181.60​
4​	RAN	370.1601​	0.58​	171.55​

On a shorter trip probably not a big enough difference to worry about but on a longer trip you can safe a lot watching the costs.

 

[Budman]

I think the conventional wisdom that Electrify America is bad and unreliable is seriously out of date in many areas now. I've had very good performance with the new 350 kw dispensers throughout the midwest and western states. Conversely, my recent experiences with supercharges has been meh...... They have quickly dropped to 150 or even 130 kw with a "speed limited by charger" messages. EA and Electrify Canada on the other hand hold 190 to 210 kW for a long time.

Check plugshare on your intended route and if the EA stations are getting good scores, I think they are a very good option.

 

[bigsky]

Tesla superchargers are everywhere, ubiquitous. Even if not all of them support Rivians, there are still lots of them that do. They are ultra reliable, and do not suffer from the deranged, absurd, pickpocket, rip-off, no-thank-you electricity prices that most of the other networks want for juice.
And I so love that, like with my Teslas, it is 100% plug and charge with my Rivian. Pull up to one, plug in, charging starts. No phone app to pull up, no messing with your phone at all, no cc to pull out, either. NOTHING beats the Tesla network. Nothing.

I also have discovered the FLO network, and even if cc required, it too has lower prices than most.

 

[bigsky]

EA and Electrify Canada on the other hand hold 190 to 210 kW for a long time.

As fas as I know, it is my Rivian, or any EV for that matter, that determines the charging rate and charging curve generally.

 

[Budman]

As fas as I know, it is my Rivian, or any EV for that matter, that determines the charging rate and charging curve generally.

But I specifically get “speed limited by charger” messages in the Rivian UI. Happened multiple times with Superchargers, other Rivian drivers have said that too at Supercharger stops.

Like this message a couple days ago at a supercharger

 

[KingTodd]

I have used Rivian , Tesla and EA. With that said , I don’t take many long trips where I need to fast charge.
My preference is for what works and is where i need it to be.
When I did a 2000 mile round trip earlier this year, l learned how reliable plentiful and generally well priced Tesla is.
Rivian worked well , in good spots to waste time but are expensive
Used EA once and it was good.
.

 

[bigsky]

I never forget my introduction to EA. Missoula, MT. The great Tesla supercharger at U.S. 93 North, $0.35/kWh, $0.45 for Rivian. 7 miles away, other side of town, EA cost $0.64 kWh.
Typical highert cost for most of the other charging networks, a total scam and fraud in my view and the reason why I never shall use them.

 

[bigsky]

But I specifically get “speed limited by charger” messages in the Rivian UI. Happened multiple times with Superchargers, other Rivian drivers have said that too at Supercharger stops.

Like this message a couple days ago at a supercharger

Have you tried perhaps a different dispenser?
Have seen that with some Tesla dispensers also; moved over to another one, better.
I charged at a Tesla SC yesterday. My Rivian started preconditioning one hour before arrival: pack temp. lowered to 76F from 95F when I got to it at 10% SOC. Charging peaked at 206 kW in a few seconds.

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Tesla

 

[bigsky]

I have used Rivian , Tesla and EA. With that said , I don’t take many long trips where I need to fast charge.
My preference is for what works and is where i need it to be.
When I did a 2000 mile round trip earlier this year, l learned how reliable plentiful and generally well priced Tesla is.
Rivian worked well , in good spots to waste time but are expensive
Used EA once and it was good.
.

Likewise, I fast charge only when taking the occasional long trip. RAN was great last year, perfect, relatively low prices. Fine.

Then RAN decided to jack up prices and join most other networks out there.

In my neck of the woods, RAN charger costs $0.60/kWh. A few miles to the East, the glorious Tesla SC cost $0.35/ kWh, Rivian price w/o membership!

I look out for number one always. It shall never be my job, nor shall I ever be dumb enough to frequent, support, and otherwise use RAN and the others with their outrageous prices and thus fall victiim to such a scam and fraud. Immensible grateful for Tesla.

 

[emoore]

I think the conventional wisdom that Electrify America is bad and unreliable is seriously out of date in many areas now. I've had very good performance with the new 350 kw dispensers throughout the midwest and western states. Conversely, my recent experiences with supercharges has been meh...... They have quickly dropped to 150 or even 130 kw with a "speed limited by charger" messages. EA and Electrify Canada on the other hand hold 190 to 210 kW for a long time.

Check plugshare on your intended route and if the EA stations are getting good scores, I think they are a very good option.

EA is good when it's working. I'd rather take the chances at a tesla charger derating at 150 or 130kW then EA derating to 36kW due to heat.

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