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Rivian has inaugurated its first Charging Outpost near Yosemite National Park, transforming an old gas station in Groveland, California. This innovative site offers not only high-speed charging but also various amenities for travelers.
Key Highlights:
- Location: Groveland, California, near Yosemite National Park
- Hours: Open to the public from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with 24-hour access for Rivian owners
- Amenities: Lounge area, onsite library, sustainable furniture, Rivian merchandise, trail mix for purchase, complimentary coffee, water bottle refill station
- Facilities: Five DC fast chargers, 24-hour restrooms, native plants, educational games about sustainability
The Rivian Yosemite Charging Outpost, set in the historic town of Groveland, offers travelers a unique space to rest and recharge both their electric vehicles and themselves. Designed with sustainability in mind, the outpost features upcycled furniture and compressed sawdust tables, creating a comfortable and eco-friendly environment. Visitors can enjoy a book in the lounge area, purchase Rivian merchandise, or make their own trail mix.
Outside, five DC fast chargers are available around the clock, along with restrooms and educational games that teach sustainability. The site also features native plants to enhance the local ecosystem.
Liz Guerrero, Senior Director of Environments at Rivian, emphasized the importance of creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience for visitors:
“As much as we want to keep people moving on their journey, we also want to make sure they know that when they stop at one of our Charging Outposts, they’re in for a relaxing and recharging pit stop.”
Rivian has also launched another charging site near Yosemite’s eastern entrance in Lee Vining and installed 58 Waypoints chargers at 11 locations within Yosemite Valley. These additions aim to enhance access to the park and support EV travelers.
Paul Frey, VP of Propulsion, Charging, and Adventure Products at Rivian, highlighted the company’s commitment to expanding charging access:
“Rivian is investing in expanding access to charging to lead the EV industry towards better EV ownership experiences. Our new Yosemite Charging Outpost is the latest and most exciting example showing how we’re expanding our Rivian Adventure Network to serve areas most likely to be on your road trip bucket lists.”
The Groveland site holds historical significance, initially serving as a blacksmith shop in the 1870s before becoming an auto repair shop and then a gas station. Guerrero explained the attraction to the project:
“We certainly fall in love and gravitate toward buildings and communities that have a story or an opportunity to breathe new life into something that once was.”
Rivian’s restoration efforts focused on minimizing waste and using sustainable materials. The old parking lot and sidewalk materials were repurposed into the site’s retaining wall, and the building itself is a Net Zero Energy Building thanks to a partnership with US Solar.
Denise Cherry, VP of Experience Design at Rivian, noted the building’s resilience through passive cooling:
“It gets quite hot and cold here, but we’ve designed the building to be pretty resilient. You’re not blasting the heat or blasting the AC year-round.”
The Yosemite Charging Outpost is the first of many Rivian plans to open near national parks and high-traffic areas, aiming to create refreshing and inspiring stops for all travelers, whether they drive an EV or not. Guerrero added:
“We want to support local communities or anyone traveling to these destinations, as well as making the charging experience even better than it is today.”
With this innovative approach, Rivian is setting a new standard for charging stations, blending sustainability, comfort, and functionality to enhance the EV travel experience.
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