Charging Tips For Rivian Owners

[Rivian Mom]

So I'm not sure I've posted anything with regards to charging tips before. I've got a few personal tips that have helped me so far in terms of charging my R1S and I thought it'd be great to put them out there for new owners or anyone else who might actually find them helpful. I know many people who are new to electric vehicles will soon buy their first, a Rivian R1T or Rivian R1S and here are 10 tips and considerations regarding charging.

1. When possible, minimize fast charging: Manufacturers caution that DC fast charging speeds lead to accelerated battery degradation. Slower charging speeds will extend the life of the battery, so if you do not need a fast charge, choose a slower charging speed.

2. Minimize time spent at 100% charge: Battery life will be extended if the battery is consistently charged to a point below 100%. If your plans for the day do not require the entire range offered by your vehicle, ending charging at some point around or below 90% is advisable.

3. Minimize time spent at 0% charge: Unlike some battery technologies in the past, full depletion of modern lithium-ion batteries is not recommended to extend battery life. Full depletion may negatively impact range in the long-term.

4. Never leave an electric vehicle at zero percent charge status for an extended period: If a battery falls below a certain charge level, the battery may be difficult to revive. To avoid this issue, do not leave the vehicle with a fully depleted battery for an extended period. If the vehicle will be stored for a long period, ensure the battery status is not at zero.

5. Minimize exposure to extreme temperatures: When possible, park the vehicle in a location where exposure to extreme temperatures is reduced. Both extreme heat and extreme cold accelerate battery wear. Manufacturers design a battery management system to control the temperature of the vehicle’s battery and maintain a temperature range that is conducive to long battery life.

6. Plan your route: Before beginning a long journey, take a moment to consult a route planning app or charger location app to research convenient charging locations along the way. Perhaps a slightly longer route following a major highway offers more charging points near services such as restaurants along the way.

7. Sign up for charging apps and services ahead of time: ChargePoint, Electrify America, and Blink are good examples.

8. Keep a charging cord neatly stored in your vehicle: Every Rivian comes standard with a portable charging cable that neatly packs away and plugs into both 120V and 240V outlets, delivering up to 16 miles of range per hour. In case you drive to a destination only to find that the charger at that location is inoperable, you might be glad to have a charging cable with you if a power outlet is nearby. Many businesses, residential locations, and hotels will have a power outlet that is accessible. While the charging rate may be slow, the energy added will still be considerable if the vehicle will be parked in that location for more than a few hours or overnight, such as at a hotel.

9. Time your charging: You could take advantage of lower rates for electricity if you are able to shift your charging times to overnight or early in the morning. You can check with your local utility for details.

10. Avoid damage to charging hardware: Always quickly look at the interior of the charging nozzle end before plugging into the charging port on the car. Sometimes, charging stations are poorly maintained—especially if the station is used infrequently—and accumulated debris could damage the receptacle on your car. If extending a charging cable a significant distance, avoid accelerated wear on the cable from dragging on the ground. Once charging is complete, hang the cable on the appropriate hook for the next driver.

These tips have helped me to maintain my battery longevity and so far, they've been working great for me too. Feel free to drop any input or suggestions if you've got any.