Bloomington, IL Charging. What gives?

[Drippy20]

Hey Rivian, I'm driving from Chicago to Springfield, IL. It's cold so apparently I can't drive there without a charge. Oh good, I can stop at my SUV's birthplace and get a quick charge! Nope because there aren't RAN chargers at the factory or hometown of the factory. Stupid! And I got to wait 10 min at an EA charger instead which is way better.
Seriously, how about a little hometown pride with a RAN station? P.S. I'm driving this way again in late June for sure, so you've got time! Hahahaha.

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[Joe schmoe]

Was the EA charger working properly? That seems to be a chronically problematic site.

I charged there to and from the Oshkosh airshow last summer, and on the return the best of the four handles was supplying I think 90kw. One of the others around 30kw and two other two just dead.

I showed up fairly late at night, with a low state of charge, and had to wait for the "good" handle. By the time I unplugged a stormfront was bearing down on me with almost continuous lightning and very high winds--I was watching grocery carts and metal trash cans tumbling through the parking lot.

It was an interesting drive home, and I was having the same thoughts you did--simply embarrassing within a couple of miles of the factory.

 

[portdirect]

Same here - we often drive from St Louis to Chicago - it's a real shame that Tonka (our yellow R1T) can't visit (or even close to) where she was born for lunch on the way.

 

[Citrinite]

Did the drive from MKE to STL and back over the New Year's holiday weekend. We stopped in Bloomington at the EA. It worked but would have been nice to have stopped at Rivian instead!

 

[zefram47]

Yup...I was just through there the day after Xmas. Plant was busy AF and there was a wait at the EA station 3 cars deep. I'd come up from Saint Louis so I burned about 64% of the battery and rolled in with 18%. They really should install a RAN somewhere in town. The EA charger in Joliet, IL was also a disaster...full both times I hit that one, but I think it's mainly because it's the last DC charger heading west before Geneseo so a ton of folks are always using it. But I also noticed it seemed like a bunch of locals using the Joliet location...so maybe the area has a problem with a lot of EV owners not having home charging available. But then it's even more ridiculous these key sites only have 4 stalls each.

 

[Golfer04]

Yup...I was just through there the day after Xmas. Plant was busy AF and there was a wait at the EA station 3 cars deep. I'd come up from Saint Louis so I burned about 64% of the battery and rolled in with 18%. They really should install a RAN somewhere in town. The EA charger in Joliet, IL was also a disaster...full both times I hit that one, but I think it's mainly because it's the last DC charger heading west before Geneseo so a ton of folks are always using it. But I also noticed it seemed like a bunch of locals using the Joliet location...so maybe the area has a problem with a lot of EV owners not having home charging available. But then it's even more ridiculous these key sites only have 4 stalls each.

Glad to see others are joining the chorus about Central Illinois charging. I frequent (when I dcfc) that Walmart charger. Once a tech was there fixing it and he said it is due for an upgrade, and it is one of the most heavily used EA sites in the Midwest. According to several Rivian employees the company would not put a RAN location nearby because they didn't all the employees to get free charging. Employee I spoke to today said now that they are charging for RAN use there was a possibility one would go in locally. He said "the units are just sitting at the plant and they own all this property".

 

[Drippy20]

Was the EA charger working properly? That seems to be a chronically problematic site.

I charged there to and from the Oshkosh airshow last summer, and on the return the best of the four handles was supplying I think 90kw. One of the others around 30kw and two other two just dead.

I showed up fairly late at night, with a low state of charge, and had to wait for the "good" handle. By the time I unplugged a stormfront was bearing down on me with almost continuous lightning and very high winds--I was watching grocery carts and metal trash cans tumbling through the parking lot.

It was an interesting drive home, and I was having the same thoughts you did--simply embarrassing within a couple of miles of the factory.

It was working, and busy the way there and home. Had to wait for 10 min there, and pulled in on way home. Then another Rivian came in, so 3 of 4 were Rivian. I froze walking to Steak n Shake for lunch, but charged enough to get all the way home. IL has the same problem as Indiana, need a few more between the long stretches so not everyone charges at the same stations.

 

[Drippy20]

EA in Springfield a little south had 2/4 down. I charged at #4 at a 5 kwh rate! Called and they rest, got 30 kwh. Gave up and went to the meeting I had and came back. Same situation 3 hrs later, then moved to the "working" charger that took over 5 min to hit 80kwh. I gave up and shot for Bloomington. Thankfully efficiency was better than previous night.

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