Rivian customers can now request an adapter to tap into Tesla’s vast network of superchargers in North America, making it the second automaker to do so after Ford.
The company was announced Monday that it will begin shipping adapters to Rivian owners — one per VIN — “this spring” for free, though it did not say whether it will eventually charge a fee. Ford was the first to start offering so-called North American Charging Adapters (NACS) for free last month. Ford will start charging $230 for the adapters after June 30.
Rivian has not said whether it will offer existing customers the adapter for free or how much it will cost to order.
Nearly every major automaker has announced NACS compatibility for some or all of their upcoming EVs since Tesla first announced it would open access to its charging technology in late 2022. The adapters serve as a stop-gap for customers who buy (or have already purchased) EVs based on the previously dominant charging interface, the Combined Charging System (CCS). Most automakers have announced that future EVs will incorporate Tesla’s charging technology into future vehicles.
For example, Rivian’s existing R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck will be produced with Charing Tesla technology integrated next year. Rivian’s next-generation vehicles, which it just revealed earlier this month, will also include the Tesla charging port. The R2 SUV will start shipping with a NACS charging port in 2026, while the smaller R3 hatchback will follow later. (Though there has already been some concern online where Rivian chose to place this port.)
Rivian says current owners will receive a notification on their vehicle’s display with a QR code to scan where they can reserve the adapter.
Making Tesla’s Supercharger network accessible to owners means they now have 15,000 new fast chargers to connect to. Rivian has also created its own network of fast charging stations, which it calls the Rivian Adventure Network. The company said Monday that it currently has 424 of these chargers in operation at 70 stations in 22 states.
