Rivian Opens First-of-Its-Kind EV Charging Center and Hub in California, Releases New Travel Kitchen

For the project, Rivian repurposed an existing building that throughout its history has served as a blacksmith shop, a repair shop, and a gas station, retrofitting it for a future continuing to assist travelers and outdoor adventures en route to the nearby national park and beyond. Rivian hopes to open more Outpost locations in the future. Drivers of all types of electric vehicles, not just Rivians, will be able to enjoy the amenities, though The Rivian Adventure Network of DC fast chargers is currently open only to Rivian drivers. The company plans to open the network to drivers of other electric vehicles later this year. Rivian owners don’t even need to touch a button to charge at Outpost or any of the forthcoming 3,500+ chargers in the network, which will be installed in the coming years at approximately 600 initial sites along popular routes and highways. Rivian drivers can add up to 140 miles of range in 20 minutes, according to the company.

This first Outpost will produce zero emissions in its daily operations, thanks to a donation from US Solar. The building will be outfitted with enough solar power to cover what it uses, which given its primary purpose as a place for drivers to charge their cars, is set to be a lot. Snacks look to be available in bulk, avoiding the use of single-use plastic bags as much as possible. Travelers will also have the opportunity to stock up on simple adventure basics and souvenirs – think t-shirts and reusable water bottles.

Rivian releases travel kitchen powered by its trucks

On August 15, Rivian announced the release of a travel kitchen that drivers can bring with them on their adventures. The two-burner stovetop can be powered by the truck itself, or by an auxiliary 120v power source, and comes with a small prep area that includes a cutting board. The cookstove is sized to be placed on the back gate of the truck, but is portable and can be used anywhere where power can reach it.

The travel kitchen includes a pull-out drawer for utensils with an add-on accessories kit including spatulas, kinves, silverware, and more available for $200. Rivian partnered with Snow Peak for the kitchen utensils, with other options like a kive and cutting board set and barbecue tongs, and coffee drips also for sale. The kitchen unit itself costs $1,400 and can be ordered online.