Anyway to add new charging locations to navigation?

[Jeffh32]

I was heading into a part of SC where power was questionable and the Rivian chargers in Greenville, SC were out. I wasn't in my car at the time of planning this and looked on ABRP. Noticed a Circle K off I-85 had some fast chargers, and when I got in the truck to head out noticed it wasn't listed as a charging site. Well it was working and I was the only person charging while everyone waited in line for gas.

Curious if there was a way to add a new charging location to the onboard navigation in the Rivian or drop some sort of "hey this needs an update pin". I've noticed ABRP has updates but they don't translate over to Rivian, it takes a few months. Would love to see Circle K add more chargers if they see that it can turn a profit.

Sponsored

 

[VSG]

The Rivian navigation doesn't show all chargers, just chargers from some specific companies. That's really important to keep in mind, because there are thousands of chargers from many different networks that are perfectly usable but do not show up in the Rivian navigation. Note however that you CAN search for and route to that Circle K but Rivian just treats it like any other point of interest, not like a charging location.

I'm not sure why this is, but I've always assumed it was because Rivian requires access to the data through an API, and not every network provides an API, or doesn't provide all the necessary data, or maybe some have onerous licensing terms. Rivian doesn't have its own database of charging locations, so it's not a matter of Rivian's data being incomplete or out of date - the data from these networks just isn't available to Rivian for some reason. (And trying to deal with that by building their own database of charger locations is destined to fail - that will never be complete or accurate. Rivian really needs the companies to supply their own data, and those companies should also want this.)

Regardless, both PlugShare and ABRP seem to have a pretty complete list of chargers, but data like pricing and availability is still spotty across networks. Just as an example, the availability and pricing of (open) Tesla superchargers DOES show up in the Rivian navigation, but does NOT show up in PlugShare. Presumably because Tesla is licensing that API and has only made the data available to companies like Rivian that have signed agreements with Tesla. Another example, Rivian shows Electrify America charger locations, but doesn't show availability or pricing. PlugShare doesn't show EA availability or pricing either. But the EA app does show both, indicating to me that EA is just not making that data publicly available.

Usually the best source for pricing and availability is from the app for that specific network. Unfortunately that means you currently need a dozen different apps until all these networks agree on some uniform way to publish and distribute their data.

I encourage you to make the request to Rivian to add Circle K, but be aware that it's not as simple as Rivian adding a data point to their maps, and that they're probably already trying to get access to the realtime data feed from Circle K.

 

[Jeffh32]

The Rivian navigation doesn't show all chargers, just chargers from some specific companies. That's really important to keep in mind, because there are thousands of chargers from many different networks that are perfectly usable but do not show up in the Rivian navigation. Note however that you CAN search for and route to that Circle K but Rivian just treats it like any other point of interest, not like a charging location.

I'm not sure why this is, but I've always assumed it was because Rivian requires access to the data through an API, and not every network provides an API, or doesn't provide all the necessary data, or maybe some have onerous licensing terms. Rivian doesn't have its own database of charging locations, so it's not a matter of Rivian's data being incomplete or out of date - the data from these networks just isn't available to Rivian for some reason. (And trying to deal with that by building their own database of charger locations is destined to fail - that will never be complete or accurate. Rivian really needs the companies to supply their own data, and those companies should also want this.)

Regardless, both PlugShare and ABRP seem to have a pretty complete list of chargers, but data like pricing and availability is still spotty across networks. Just as an example, the availability and pricing of (open) Tesla superchargers DOES show up in the Rivian navigation, but does NOT show up in PlugShare. Presumably because Tesla is licensing that API and has only made the data available to companies like Rivian that have signed agreements with Tesla. Another example, Rivian shows Electrify America charger locations, but doesn't show availability or pricing. PlugShare doesn't show EA availability or pricing either. But the EA app does show both, indicating to me that EA is just not making that data publicly available.

Usually the best source for pricing and availability is from the app for that specific network. Unfortunately that means you currently need a dozen different apps until all these networks agree on some uniform way to publish and distribute their data.

I encourage you to make the request to Rivian to add Circle K, but be aware that it's not as simple as Rivian adding a data point to their maps, and that they're probably already trying to get access to the realtime data feed from Circle K.

Thanks for the response. After reading it it makes perfect sense. Seeing a lot more Circle K's popping up with 180kw chargers so plenty of time to grab a coffee.

 

[nc10]

I encourage you to make the request to Rivian to add Circle K, but be aware that it's not as simple as Rivian adding a data point to their maps, and that they're probably already trying to get access to the realtime data feed from Circle K.

I'm not sure asking has any effect. I had emailed my guide back in January asking to have Circle K chargers added to Navigation, noting that they show up in ABRP. The response was not exactly a "no', but the guide said it was not a quick fix and would take time, and couldn't provide an official route to requesting additions to navigation, like you can request corrections on google maps.

I don't use fast chargers a lot, but when I do its often Circle K chargers, have used the ones in Boone, NC, Gastonia, NC, and Rock Hill SC several times over the past 2+ years. So far haven't been disappointed. Hope the one on Boone is still there (along with everything else), sounds like it is one of the places hit really hard by Helene.

 

[nc10]

Seeing a lot more Circle K's popping up with 180kw chargers so plenty of time to grab a coffee.

The one nearest me has a 400kw (or dual 200Kw) charger, along with a couple with the dual 180kw output connections..

Sponsored