Wireless charging pad useless. Any changes imminent?

[staples]

Hmmmm.... I honestly haven't paid much attention to the charging pad, but my pixel 6 pro seems to stay charged "enough" when i drive my truck. We did a road trip and both my phone and wifey's iphone were charged when we arrived. Maybe this isn't an issue unless you look at your phone.

I think this helps to highlight the differences driving styles play on wireless charging success. If you are cruising on the highway and not whipping your R1 around corners your phone will happily sit there and charge away. Surprisingly, it works when stopped too. But it you are driving around the city, making frequent turns and/or driving like you stole it, you'll need some extra help to hold your phone in place. Let's face it, the truck is too much fun to not drive it at least a little bit spirited.

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[DJG]

Why all the fuss over the charging pad? It's something that's not often needed (charged overnight a phone should easily last the day without need for charging), and even when it does, the plug in cord from the cubby is a much better solution anyway (faster, doesn't create nearly as much heat, doesn't degrade your phone battery as fast, is reliable, etc.). There is really no reason to use the wireless pad vs. the cord. It's all cons and no pros (even if it worked flawlessly).

There are some other vehicles where the ergonomics are such that the wireless charging pad offers advantages, but I just don't think that's the case in the Rivian. The etron has a neat clip that keeps your phone vertical on it's side, and there wouldn't be a convenient place to put it while plugged in, for example. In a Rivian, the phone sits in the same place in either case. I place my phone on its side in the cutout, which is the perfect size and place for it. Opens up the pad for other items like sunglasses, etc.

 

[murbano]

Just get the MagBak wireless charging mount for tesla screens and the Magbak case. Really solid and works great.

Thank you! I have a MagBak and wasn’t sure if the Tesla screen mount would work.

 

[AltaTruck]

I have a battery case so it is too thick to charge on the pad. To prevent any possible vampire drain, can I just disconnect and remove the charging pad? I will just use the USB ports in the center console instead. I made a bracket that mounts between the two displays and uses the mount normally for the vent fins. It hooks behind the main screen and uses no fasteners. If I remove it there is no evidence it was ever there. It is also rock solid.

 

[RWerksman]

I have a battery case so it is too thick to charge on the pad. To prevent any possible vampire drain, can I just disconnect and remove the charging pad? I will just use the USB ports in the center console instead. I made a bracket that mounts between the two displays and uses the mount normally for the vent fins. It hooks behind the main screen and uses no fasteners. If I remove it there is no evidence it was ever there. It is also rock solid.

Yes, although it really doesn't use much power. Also, when the truck is off power is cut to the pad from the source.

 

[crashmtb]

This simply isn’t true. Check this thread or just about any discussion about wireless charging on Rivian. The Androids that aren’t set up to prefer MagSafe work better (less bad?) and are less temperamental than any recent iPhone. There’s even a guy on this thread who said his non-MagSafe iPhone works better in the Rivian than the newer ones.

The max distance between charger and device specified in the documentation for the charger in the rivisn is 5mm. Add up the rubber mat on the thing, the stupid camera bump on many phones, and/or a case and it’s no wonder charging wirelessly is so flaky.

 

[miasm]

I found that it was virtually impossible to get my zFold3 to charge and that even if I did get it positioned properly, it would slide around once the truck moved. I measured out the location and 3D printed a bracket to hold my phone in place. It just grasps the sides of the phone to keep it there. I also made one that should be the right size/position for an iPhone 12/13 pro. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5441861

So tempted to alter this, but make it actually hold a cable in place so I can just slide my phone onto the USB-C (or Lightning for the wife's) when I get in. Would keep the cable from laying around on the pad and getting yanked around here or there.

Might have to give it a go...thanks for the Thingiverse link.

 

[Lance T]

So tempted to alter this, but make it actually hold a cable in place so I can just slide my phone onto the USB-C (or Lightning for the wife's) when I get in. Would keep the cable from laying around on the pad and getting yanked around here or there.

Might have to give it a go...thanks for the Thingiverse link.

I'm going to do a bunch of different sizes for different phones/cases, but I just haven't gotten to it (work deadlines getting in the way). I wasn't planning on changing it for the cable, but I'm happy to export files from Fusion 360 and send them to you if you'd like to modify it directly.

 

[goldburger]

Service person told me today they are redesigning the wireless charging pad lol. I responded that rivian loves to redesign things and she laughed. I didn’t even ask what the eta was assume it was s00n, but hope it’s true!

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