DRIVING THE RIVIAN R1T FROM ROANOKE VIRGINIA TO DALLAS TEXAS - CHARGING PROBLEMS!!

EV Channels Review

The reviewer details a road trip from Roanoke, Virginia to Dallas, Texas in a Rivian R1T, highlighting significant challenges with the Electrify America charging network. While praising the Rivian R1T as a comfortable, powerful, and smooth vehicle, the reviewer repeatedly encounters non-functional chargers, derated charging speeds, and issues with charger activation. Despite these infrastructure problems, the reviewer managed to complete the trip by employing extensive planning and utilizing various charging apps. The vehicle's preconditioning system is noted as generally effective, though inconsistent. Real-world efficiency varied, impacted by wind, cold weather, and terrain, but generally hovered around 2.0-2.7 miles per kWh. The reviewer concludes that while the Rivian is an excellent vehicle, the unreliability of the CCS charging infrastructure makes road-tripping with it (or any non-Tesla EV) a complex undertaking requiring significant planning, and recommends a Tesla for those seeking a simpler experience.