Is Charging R1S Overnight Required or Optional?

[Jackie]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting Rivian RS1, but I am renting an apartment — and there is no option to charge overnight, etc.

Is charging overnight (or while not being used) absolutely required or can I just charge as needed without damaging the batteries?

Thanks

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[Great Gatsby]

Charge as needed. Most daily commuting won't drain the battery too much. Battery drain nowadays is closer to 2-3% a day worst case scenario. As long as you can comfortably charge 2-3 times a week, you should be fine.

 

[antimatter]

You can absolutely charge as needed. My suggestion, given the high price of public CCS charging, would be to find a free or low-cost level 2 charger that you could use to maintain your battery charge. Take a look at grocery stores, public buildings or even parking ramps (if the cost to park in the ramp + the cost of the charging is less than CCS charging, that might be an option). For instance, my work place has free level 2 charging that I'm planning to use until I can install a charger in my garage. Plugshare and A Better Route Planner are two free phone apps that can help you find chargers near where you live.

 

[Glembi2]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting Rivian RS1, but I am renting an apartment — and there is no option to charge overnight, etc.

Is charging overnight (or while not being used) absolutely required or can I just charge as needed without damaging the batteries?

Thanks

And welcome to group! What color and trim combo are you interested in?

 

[SoCal Rob]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting Rivian RS1, but I am renting an apartment — and there is no option to charge overnight, etc.

Is charging overnight (or while not being used) absolutely required or can I just charge as needed without damaging the batteries?

Thanks

What distance do you typically drive in a day? Without knowing that, it’s tough to realistically tell you how often you’ll need to charge. Thanks!

 

[350Industrial]

It can be done, but TBH, you really should have level 2 (220V) home charging both for convenience and cost reasons. I wouldn't recommend purchasing any EV to a friend or family member unless they can charge at home, but again, it's your decision.

And not to get on a financial high horse, but for the cost of a Rivian, I'd put that money into purchasing your own residence first as a matter of financial priority.

But hey, YOLO

 

[NeedSumCoffee]

You should charge when your battery is low. Day/night doesn’t matter. Overnight charging is more a convenience than a necessity.

 

[cbrcanuck]

For me the answer would depend on the stage of life I was in. Now (kids and too many time commitments) I wouldn’t get an EV if I couldn’t charge at home. When I was younger/single and had way more flexible time - I would (knowing what I do now). Good luck with the decision!

 

[Nixapatfan]

Depends on how much you drive daily, I can sometimes go several weeks without charging. Public charging an EV is usually more expensive than gasoline so be ready for sticker shock. I personally would not buy one if I couldn't charge at home.

 

[COdogman]

I am also a renter, although I have a private garage with a 120v outlet that I can connect my truck to when not in use. Since I work from home that works just fine for me. L1 charging is very slow - typically adds around 2-3 miles per hour it's plugged in.

In your situation I would base it more on how many miles you drive each week. If you are relying solely on third party chargers, that could get expensive... There are memberships you can join that lowers the cost a little bit, but it still would add up quickly if you had to stop there 1-2 times per week.

 

[CompilerBreak]

Lots of people charge overnight because it is easy (you aren't using when you are asleep) , and many places have variable electric rates that get cheaper at night. If you don't have that, it is fine I charge during the day all the time, but being able to charge at home is the important bit because that is very likely where your cheapest 'fill up' will come from. Public charging around me is 2-4x what I can do at home and would negate all the EV cost savings.

 

[CarGuyCarl]

I'm not sure I would suggest owning an EV (especially if first time EV owner) without some form of at home charging, especially in an area with harsh winters. DC charging is expensive and it will take up your time.

This all varies on how much you drive and what your tolerance is to spending time in the car charging it, and it won't be cheap.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting Rivian RS1, but I am renting an apartment — and there is no option to charge overnight, etc.

Is charging overnight (or while not being used) absolutely required or can I just charge as needed without damaging the batteries?

Thanks

No, overnight charging is not a requirement. The electrons don't care what time it is. You and your wallet might.

Just like your cellphone, tablet or laptop computer... charge whenever convenient. People charge at home and at night because residential utilities tend to have lower per kWh off-peak rates. Without home charging, it's do-able pending you. Can you Level 2 charge at work? Or are there fast chargers near you, or along your commute, and are you willing to make time to go there and...

• wait in line for your turn if it's a busy location*?
• go early or go late** before the crowds show up?
• sit there (or go for a walk***) for 30-50 minutes while charging?

*Tesla Superchargers tend to have more dispensers per site than other networks.
**Many public fast chargers have lower rates past a certain hour.
***Most networks have idle fees to discourage people from blocking access to chargers. So you don't want to leave your car plugged in after the session is over.

 

[mkg3]

One of our kids, who rents and does not have EV charger at workplace, wanted an EV. After a very short discussion about the reality of having to goto DCFC and charge to keep the vehicle operating, he quickly decided against it - I agreed.

We have 2 EVs and both are charged at home overnight. The only time we've used DCFC ia on the road trips. If I had to use DCFC for all charging, I would not own any EV.

 

[2kwik4u]

It can be done, but TBH, you really should have level 2 (220V) home charging both for convenience and cost reasons. I wouldn't recommend purchasing any EV to a friend or family member unless they can charge at home, but again, it's your decision.

And not to get on a financial high horse, but for the cost of a Rivian, I'd put that money into purchasing your own residence first as a matter of financial priority.

But hey, YOLO

I 100% agree with the part about having L2 charging at home. The rental thing could be circumstantial, and not financially driven, so I'll glaze over that.

I'm in a rental property, and did not have 220V charging when I bought my Rivian. I got a '24 R1T with the Large Pack and 20in AT's. My "normal" commute is around 50-60mi/day. Using only the 120V outlet in the garage I would get ~25mi/night back into the battery. With 305 usable range in the pack I was fast charging a couple times a week. Usually on my lunch break, or in the evenings after the rest of the family was in bed/done for the night. I did this for 2mo before I got my L2 charging in the garage setup. With landlords approval I put a 14-50 plug in the garage, and have been using the Rivian portable charger for the last 7mo.

The difference in experience between having an L2 charger, and having to hit a fast charger a few times a week is significant. I had a "long driving" day on Tuesday where I covered about 270mi. I was able to set the truck to 100% when I got home and woke up with a "full tank" in the morning, despite getting home around 40% the day before. The ability to "fill up" at home while sleeping makes the whole experience SO much better.

Is it possible to live with just 120V charging, or just local DCFC; yes. Is it a great idea in a VERY "thirsty" pickup/SUV EV; not really.

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