Charging the Rivian R1T Electric Pickup

Rivian R1T Charging & Range

The Rivian R1T comes with a choice of three large battery packs. The smallest battery is 105 kilowatt-hours and provides about 230 miles of range on a single charge. The 135-kWh increases the range to an expected 300 miles. Lastly, the monster 180-kilowatt-hour pack offers an impressive 400 miles between charges—although the power drops slightly to 522 horsepower to achieve that distance.

The R1T is heavy, tipping the scales over 7,000 pounds. Yet, despite this heft, the Rivian truck gets an admirable EPA rating of 74 MPGe in the city, 66 MPGe on the highway, and a combined 70 MPGe.

Drivers use the standard J1772 plug for home charging, which provides juice to an onboard charger rated at 11.5 kilowatts. That equates to adding 30 or more miles of range in an hour, although Rivian notes a conservative estimate of 25 miles per hour of charging.

Taking full advantage of the 11.5-kW charger requires a capable 48-amp home EV charger like the JuiceBox 48. The 48-amp JuiceBox allows drivers to fully charge the 230-mile R1T from empty to full in a nine-hour overnight session. Of course, bigger packs take longer to fill up, but most daily commutes in the U.S. are about 40 miles so the sizable Rivian packs only need topping up on most days. The Rivian app allows you to monitor the R1T pickup’s charging status in real-time.

The Rivian app and dashboard display allow drivers to monitor the R1S’s charging status in real-time. Rivian owners who lack access to a home charging station can utilize a charging network of about 10,000 public Level 2 “Rivian Waypoint” chargers near shops, restaurants, hotels, and parks.

Level 3 DC fast charging: Rivian Adventure Network

Rivian’s self-proclaimed mission is to “keep the world adventurous forever.” To support this goal, Rivian created a nationwide network of DC fast chargers where drivers can add up to 140 miles range in about 20 minutes.

The so-called Rivian Adventure Network uses strategically placed DC public fast chargers to connect popular adventure destinations—such as Los Angeles to Tahoe and Manhattan to the Adirondacks. The network is expected to reach 600 sites by the end of 2023.

These locations will provide easy “automatic” charging. Drivers simply pull up and plug in—similar to how Tesla Superchargers work. The Rivian R1T’s dashboard navigation will guide drivers to stations. Initially, the charging rate at Adventure Network chargers will be 200 kilowatts, the fast speed allows 140 miles of added range in 20 minutes. However, Rivian is planning to increase the rate to 300 kW in the future for even faster pit stops on all-electric adventures.