New Software: More Reliable Charging

Introducing Charger Reliability Scores

By Rivian

April 15^th, 2024

Rivian drivers can now see how reliable a fast charger is based on real-world charging experiences, with industry-first charging scores now available in every R1T and R1S via our latest over-the-air update.

Our trip planner also uses data from our connected fleet to route drivers to the most reliable fast chargers, ensuring peace of mind on longer trips.

A confident charging experience is the cornerstone of a Rivian road trip, so we believe in empowering drivers with essential information long before they pull up and plug in. With a rapidly growing choice of charging networks, it’s equally important to be equipped with objective data across all the different network options.

How Charging Scores Works

When a Rivian driver plugs into a fast charger on any network, including Tesla Superchargers, the vehicle logs relevant data such as the charger’s average top speed, payment success and overall charge session success. When enough Rivian drivers have used a given charging site, we dynamically assign that site a reliability score from A (highest) to F (lowest) based on those critical performance factors.

Charging scores are seamlessly integrated with our trip planner to give you a worry-free charging experience on long-distance trips. When our navigation calculates the best driving route based on your desired arrival range and preferred charging networks, it prioritizes the fast charging sites with better scores for the best experience.

You can see a charging site’s score in several places on the vehicle UI and on the Rivian app: tap the charging site icon from within the map on the Rivian app, the center display of the vehicle, or within a trip plan. In addition to the score, you’ll also see the charging network name, the site’s maximum charging speed capabilities, and real-time information about the number of chargers in use wherever available. Tap the arrow next to the charging network name to reveal hours of operation, the average top charging speed based on actual plug-in data, site details and pricing information.

Fast charging sites can have different capabilities, so there may be times when your vehicle’s max charging speed is above or below a site’s nominal speed. To view your vehicle’s max charging speed, tap the information icon [i] next to the site charging speed. Some fast-charging sites have not been assigned a charging reliability score yet. As more drivers use these sites, we can collect the data required to assign charging scores to all the fast-charging sites Rivian vehicles can use.

Improving your Charging Experience

Wherever possible, our navigation will steer drivers toward A and B-ranked charging sites. However, if your trip is way off the beaten path, you may see lower-scoring charging sites on your route if these are the best options available.

Ensure you have a valid form of payment. When you plug into the Rivian Adventure Network, a Tesla Supercharger and other charging networks with plug-and-charge compatibility, the credit card linked to your Rivian account is automatically billed.

Since ease of payment impacts charger reliability scores, charging networks that don’t yet offer plug-and-charge may have a lower score if drivers have had payment troubles. Keep in mind that many fast-charging providers use their own apps to accept payments. So if you’re planning an extended trip, consider downloading apps for the networks you will use before you go.

Start planning your Rivian road trip now. The more Rivian drivers who plug in at different fast-charging sites, the faster we’ll be able to calculate the site’s charging score and the sooner we’ll be able to recommend more high-scoring charging sites to all Rivian drivers.