RAN charging how much???

[Tim-in-CA]

Due to all the air traffic controller problems because of the forced government shutdown, I may now have to drive 1000 miles each way for Thanksgiving vs a 2ish hr flight. I won't deal with massive lines and possible flight delays and cancelations. Will take me approximately 18 hours total (one way) to drive from So Cal to Denver, fortunately I have the flexibility of leaving outside of the busy driving days. In looking at charging prices, I will most likely have to stick with Tesla as with their membership pricing, the rates typically are less than $0.37 / kWh. I estimate I'll have to charge about 900ish kWh for the whole trip. I don't want to enrich Elmo any more than necessary, but charging at EA or RANs will cost ~50% more unfortunately.

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[COdogman]

Due to all the air traffic controller problems because of the forced government shutdown, I may now have to drive 1000 miles each way for Thanksgiving vs a 2ish hr flight. I won't deal with massive lines and possible flight delays and cancelations. Will take me approximately 18 hours total (one way) to drive from So Cal to Denver, fortunately I have the flexibility of leaving outside of the busy driving days. In looking at charging prices, I will most likely have to stick with Tesla as with their membership pricing, the rates typically are less than $0.37 / kWh. I estimate I'll have to charge about 900ish kWh for the whole trip. I don't want to enrich Elmo any more than necessary, but charging at EA or RANs will cost ~50% more unfortunately.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Due to all the air traffic controller problems because of the forced government shutdown, I may now have to drive 1000 miles each way for Thanksgiving vs a 2ish hr flight. I won't deal with massive lines and possible flight delays and cancelations. Will take me approximately 18 hours total (one way) to drive from So Cal to Denver, fortunately I have the flexibility of leaving outside of the busy driving days. In looking at charging prices, I will most likely have to stick with Tesla as with their membership pricing, the rates typically are less than $0.37 / kWh. I estimate I'll have to charge about 900ish kWh for the whole trip. I don't want to enrich Elmo any more than necessary, but charging at EA or RANs will cost ~50% more unfortunately.

And the dollar amount that ends in his pocket is minuscule. And Tesla isn’t just one sorry excuse for a human being. It is thousands of employees who are just trying to make a living and raise families. Some hate him just as much.

 

[CANCERDOC]

Yes RAN is pricey but Rivian is also a fledgling network and I for one am just happy there are additional DCFC options, RAN included. The more fast chargers, the less barriers to road tripping an EV. Yes it’s expensive to DCFC but that’s what home charging is for. DC is a convenience not an everyday thing. If you cannot charge at home, an EV might not make economic sense.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Whine. Whine. Whine. Facts: DCFC is almost always more expensive than home charging. And cost depends partly on the grid and local utility that powers it, along with their commercial rates (plus lease of real estate). Charging cost also vary by time of day; on/off peak. And whatever cost you are used to, and using as frame of reference, is not universal… since that utility does not service entire nation from coast to coast. In many markets 50-60 ¢ is normal peak rate. Whatever caused you to think EVs are cheaper to “refuel” than ICE, you didn’t do your research thoroughly. RAN is also a much smaller network than others. Thus lower capitalization and higher operating cost per location. Plus, the company is consistently trying to reduce CAPEX, not loose more $. For now, RAN is essentially a side project and marketing tool (like a roadside billboard). And… no one is forcing you to use it.

So why spend money building and maintaining sites that generate no revenue?

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Yes RAN is pricey but Rivian is also a fledgling network and I for one am just happy there are additional DCFC options, RAN included. The more fast chargers, the less barriers to road tripping an EV. Yes it’s expensive to DCFC but that’s what home charging is for. DC is a convenience not an everyday thing. If you cannot charge at home, an EV might not make economic sense.

Agree. Except the posts here are saying the RANs are in locations where there is a ton of cheaper fast charging available and the RAN is therefore empty. So, what’s the point of RANs that are in locations already able to serve fast chargers more cheaply? Those RANs end up not being another option.

If RANs filled in the gaps where there was no infrastructure, that would make more sense to me. To be fair, some of those sites do exist.

 

[SteveInBend]

For me, the Rivian chargers in Crescent and Klamath Falls are cheaper the the Tesla chargers in Chemult and Klamath Falls. $0.47vs. $0.53 per kWh. Once in California Tesla Weed is $0.65 vs Rvian Mount Shasta $0.37 - 0.53 TOD pricing

YMMV

 

[SwampNut]

RAN is too expensive and they will have to bring down prices to be competitive. They are the most expensive in AZ. Almost every site they have here has competition, which is cheaper.

In Quartzsite, EA and Tesla are both $0.42/kwh with memberships (0.56 without), RAN is $0.61 for Rivian and $0.71 for non-Rivian. Ionna is going to build a site there right by the RAN and they are $0.42 at another AZ site, without any membership. I charged at the Tesla site there a few weeks ago with my Mach E and I saw a Rivian pulling out, Tesla has 84 chargers so there is never any line. The RAN site looked empty when I drove by. I will not pay 50% extra, just because it has the Rivian name on it.

I got hassled by a local cop in

Agree. Except the posts here are saying the RANs are in locations where there is a ton of cheaper fast charging available and the RAN is therefore empty. So, what’s the point of RANs that are in locations already able to serve fast chargers more cheaply? Those RANs end up not being another option.

If RANs filled in the gaps where there was no infrastructure, that would make more sense to me. To be fair, some of those sites do exist.

I understand there are RAN stations in obscure "adventure" areas. But otherwise every one I've seen has been built across the street from, or in the same lot, or really close to Tesla and others. It makes no sense unless you're going to compete. Quartzsite was built across the street from Tesla, but also putting it across the street from most things you want (huge store, bathrooms). I was hassled by a local cop for jaywalking over there. LOL

The only RAN in Phoenix is in the same lot as Tesla. Why?

In Kingman the RAN puts you by a very shady/shitty c-store and not much more. The Tesla station is next to an EV museum, train museum, and 20 food options.

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Yup - I just go to Tesla. Usually better amenities, more convenient, and reasonably priced. Too bad RAN typically offers none of these benefits.

 

[badger4149]

I mean, your perspective is SoCal. I don't think anyone would agree that is representative of the rest of the country when it comes to electricity prices.

My point is that these things are highly variable and you can't make a blanket conclusion based on one personal localized experience, because other places are far different.

I was just continuing my browsing of RAN prices, and here's another one:
Charlotte, NC: $0.27 - $0.38 (time based pricing)
(and BTW, there is a Tesla Supercharger in the same parking lot that charges $0.29 - $0.55, which is much more expensive).

So again, really depends on where you are, and it's easy to disprove a blanket generalization like "RAN is always more expensive".


Again, SoCal is probably not the most representative region.

I recently completed a 5,000 mile, 15 state road trip. Tesla Superchargers were not always available, but when they were, they were consistently faster and cheaper (and literally never a wait) than any other network. I bought a 1-month month Tesla membership ($13) for the trip which made it that much more lopsidedly inexpensive.

 

[badger4149]

Same, and F Elon.

Good. I'm happy I won't be encountering such a bitter, childish person while I'm saving time and money at a Tesla network.

 

[VSG]

they were consistently faster

This is just repeating a myth.

Assuming a charger is working properly and supports charging at a rate above the ~215kW maximum that a Rivian can accept, there can be NO difference in the "speed” of a charger. The vehicle itself controls the rate under these circumstances.

Tesla charges derate in the heat. The older EA chargers had a tendency to derate when their cable cooling failed. Adapters have the potential to introduce resistance (and accompanying heat loss) which leads to reduced charging rates. I have not heard of RAN chargers having any systemic problems with derating.

Implying one brand of charger is "faster" than others is just wrong. A 350kWh EA charger will charge a Rivian just as fast as a 250kW Tesla charger - no faster and no slower - again assuming both are in working order.

 

[badger4149]

This is just repeating a myth.

Assuming a charger is working properly and supports charging at a rate above the ~215kW maximum that a Rivian can accept, there can be NO difference in the "speed” of a charger. The vehicle itself controls the rate under these circumstances.

Tesla charges derate in the heat. The older EA chargers had a tendency to derate when their cable cooling failed. Adapters have the potential to introduce resistance (and accompanying heat loss) which leads to reduced charging rates. I have not heard of RAN chargers having any systemic problems with derating.

Implying one brand of charger is "faster" than others is just wrong. A 350kWh EA charger will charge a Rivian just as fast as a 250kW Tesla charger - no faster and no slower - again assuming both are in working order.

This is correct, until you encounter a charger that will only push 50, 60, 100, 120, 150kWh.

 

[VSG]

I recently completed a 5,000 mile, 15 state road trip. Tesla Superchargers were not always available

And I completed a 4500 mile, 9 state road trip in the spring. Where I used Tesla chargers only twice because most of the route didn't have ANY Tesla supercharges that were open to Rivians or had superchargers that were more expensive than my other options. Which goes back to what I've said several times before in this thread - making blanket pronouncements like this is wrong because these ”facts" are easily disproved.

The one thing that is generally true about Tesla superchargers is that they tend to have a lot more pedestals at a site than with other brands. But there are also many more Teslas on the road than other brands. Regardless, I personally have never had to wait for a DCFC to open up before I could charge, even though that seems to be a common problem in other parts of the country and even with Tesla chargers. Realize that your anecdotal experience does not necessarily reflect everyone else's reality.

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