Check out Rivian’s “Rest Stop of the Future” at Yosemite National Park

Sprawling highways snake across America, paving the way for epic road trips. Rest areas dot these routes, offering weary travelers a place to stretch their legs and find a (hopefully clean) restroom along the way. With the advent of giant truck stops like Love’s and Buc-ee’s that also provide access to gas and kitschy trinkets, wanderers can satisfy their basic needs and more.

Electric vehicle owners have not had as many opportunities to recharge their machines And Until recently, gas stations and charging stations were far from accessible. Today, there is a significant gap between gas stations and charging stations. Car manufacturer Rivian is aiming to address this by creating a “first-of-its-kind” electric vehicle charging station near the west entrance to Yosemite National Park.

This is no ordinary charging station. The Rivian Charging Station in Yosemite is open 12 hours a day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with five DC fast chargers (Rivian calls them “dispensers”). Rivian owners get 24-hour access to high-speed charging and a lounge area where they can check out a book from an on-site library and sit on sustainable furniture made from recycled sleeping bags and down jackets. Free coffee from a local shop is available inside, and a water bottle spout sits outside, next to a pet watering station. Mix your own trail mix at the building’s counter, and Rivian products are available for purchase from an on-site staff member.

And it’s all powered by 100% renewable energy, funded in part by a partnership with US Solar.

Not just for Rivian owners

Rivian uses the word “adventure” often on its website and in marketing materials. The company uses the term “adventure network” to describe its network of charging stations across the country, where Rivian owners can pull up, plug in, and go with minimal hassle. In about 20 minutes, drivers can add up to 140 miles of range to an R1T pickup or R1S SUV — more than enough to get through a day at the park and back.

At Rivian’s first charging stations (the automaker says several more will open in and around national parks and other high-traffic areas across the country), everyone is welcome. That will become even more true when the brand opens its charging network to all compatible electric vehicles later in 2024.

Paul Frey, vice president of propulsion, charging and adventure products for Rivian, says these outposts and future locations provide a learning opportunity for non-Rivian owners, engaging and welcoming them into the brand. Frey spent eight years at Tesla, four of which he led the development of Tesla’s charging infrastructure and the user experience around vehicle charging; he understands the perspective of electric vehicle owners. Part of the anxiety electric vehicle owners feel is around access to working chargers, something Frey says the company does well.

“Our distributor reliability is over 98%, with 24/7 phone support,” he notes.

A place rich in history of adventures

Groveland, originally a mining camp during the California Gold Rush, is the quaint town west of Yosemite where Rivian’s new outpost is now open for business. The outpost building itself bears a history of transportation assistance; it was a blacksmith shop in the 1870s, then an auto repair shop, and finally, a gas station before being sold to the electric vehicle maker for restoration.

This isn’t the first time Rivian has breathed new life into interesting installations. Its Venice, California hub and the historic South Coast Theater are other examples of Rivian’s commitment to creative sustainability. This philosophy has led the brand to a strong partnership with members of the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce, who are excited about the site.

“Rivian’s brand values ​​of adventure and sustainability are complementary to those of Groveland,” said Shirley Horn, Board Member of the Highway 120 Chamber of Commerce. “The Yosemite Chamber of Commerce has been working with the Rivian team since they first requested information about our city’s history and architecture to inform their design process for the Yosemite Outpost. We were even more impressed when the local team began reaching out to our Highway 120 businesses to discuss collaborations and discussions with the Chamber about future opportunities to support the broader community.”

The outpost includes a children’s play area and a 24/7 bathroom, as well as five Rivian DC fast-charging stations. I’m looking forward to stopping by on my trip to Yosemite in the near future to see what the future of charging stations might look like.