Key Takeaways
- Rivian’s R1T pickup and R1S SUV can now be recharged at Tesla Supercharger stations, joining Ford’s vehicles.
- Rivian owners need an NACS to CCS1 adapter for charging.
- Payment is enabled via the Rivian app; no need to download the Tesla mobile app.
According to numerous reports across social media, specifically X, Rivian’s R1T pickup and R1S SUV have now joined the Ford F1-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E as non-Tesla vehicles that can be recharged at Supercharger stations and stalls. Last year, Ford was the first to officially promise that it would be adopting the NACS port, and as such, it was also the first external automaker to make that happen, which it did earlier this month.
Now, numerous tweets show that the functionality has opened to Rivian vehicles, and it does so automatically (plug & charge) – even without the Tesla app, leaving free space on one’s phone for other things, like widgets.
How Does It Work?
No software update in the world can change physical hardware, and that applies to the CCS1 adapter that Rivian’s EVs are currently equipped with. Instead, Rivian owners must use a certified (you don’t want to be playing with these voltages without certainty) NACS to CCS1 adapter. Once this attachment is, uh, attached, simply plug it into the vehicle. If you’ve already set up a payment method in the Rivian mobile app, the charging process begins automatically. The Supercharger deducts off your default payment method from the Rivian app.
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According to one of the early testers, the charging speed is “very decent.” Even the payment seems beautifully integrated, with plug & charge reportedly taking less than 15 seconds to begin operating from the moment the charger was connected. According to the X user who noticed this, it’s even faster than plug & charge on the Rivian Adventure Network.
More Support To Come
Pretty much every single automaker in America – even Fisker- has publicly announced its adoption of the NACS adapter, with most planning to implement it this year. That means we can likely expect future vehicles like the Rivian R2 to make use of the Tesla-favored plug from the factory without the need for an adapter. Even Lucid, whose CEO initially questioned NACS adoption, has joined the club. As these adapters start to make the expansive Supercharger network more accessible, the arguments against EVs dwindle ever so slightly.
