The electric vehicle (EV) sector experienced a significant shift on Tuesday as Rivian, an American automaker specializing in electric pickup trucks and SUVs, confirmed its decision to adopt Tesla's proprietary charging standard. This watershed moment propels Rivian’s customers onto the largest EV charging network in the United States and augments Tesla's aspiration to establish a universally adopted industry standard.
Rivian, with its roots firmly planted in Illinois, projected that its patrons would enjoy access to a whopping 12,000 Tesla Superchargers sprinkled across the US and Canada starting in the spring of 2024. This compatibility would require adapters in the initial phase. Additionally, the automaker has planned a progression towards incorporating a Tesla-style charging port as standard on its vehicles by the year 2025, replacing its current proprietary technology.
Currently, Rivian operates a modest network of its own fast-charging stations. However, the allure of Tesla’s connector, touted for its compactness and extensive infrastructure, has led Rivian's leadership to this strategic pivot. "We see a golden opportunity to capitalize on the charging infrastructure that Tesla has painstakingly built," Rivian CEO, RJ Scaringe, revealed in an interview with Reuters.
This alliance with Tesla forms part of a recent trend that has seen several automakers and charging infrastructure providers choosing to adopt Tesla's charging standard. On the same day as Rivian's announcement, BTC Power, a major player in EV charging solutions, declared its plan to integrate Tesla's standard into its portfolio. The government of Texas echoed this sentiment, mandating state-funded charging stations to incorporate Tesla's plug. At the same time, Korean automaker Hyundai Motor is contemplating a more significant alignment of its vehicles with Tesla’s standard.