Rivian, an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, automotive technology and outdoor recreation company, has restored an abandoned gas station in Groveland, California, to create its first EV Charging Outpost.
During peak travel seasons, thousands of visitors pass through Groveland each day on their way to nearby adventures, most notably in route to Yosemite National Park 24 miles to the east. The Rivian Yosemite Charging Outpost will be open to the public offering a host of amenities from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with 24-hour access to high-speed charging for Rivian owners.
As visitors pull up to the new Yosemite Charging Outpost, they will be greeted by native plants that encourage pollinators to stop by. The materials that made up the old parking lot and sidewalk have been repurposed into the site’s retaining wall. In partnership with U.S. Solar, the building itself is a Net Zero Energy Building, generating as much power as it consumes. U.S. Solar, a national developer, owner and operator of solar projects focused on accessible clean energy solutions, is a key collaborator in advancing Rivian's clean energy mission.
The building also uses passive cooling, a process that utilizes a building’s design to help control the temperature, said Denise Cherry, vice president of experience design at Rivian.
“It gets quite hot and cold here, but we’ve designed the building to be pretty resilient,” she said. “You’re not blasting the heat or blasting the AC year-round. It remains comfortable and helps reduce impact on the planet.”
Inside, there is a lounge area where customers can sit and relax in sustainable furniture made of upcycled, second-hand sleeping bags and puffer coats, and the tables are made of compressed sawdust. There is also an onsite library.
The Charging Outpost also features Rivian merchandise and a make-your-own trail mix available for purchase, as well as complimentary coffee and a water bottle refill station.
Outside, there are five DC fast chargers and restrooms available 24 hours a day, as well as native plants and educational games that teach about sustainability.
“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,” said Liz Guerrero, senior director of environments at Rivian. “We want people to feel really good about the experience and for it to add to their journey.”
In addition to the new Yosemite Charging Outpost near the west entrance of the national park, Rivian recently opened a Rivian Adventure Network charging site near the eastern entrance of Yosemite in Lee Vining, California. Rivian has also installed 58 Waypoints chargers across 11 sites at popular destinations within the Yosemite Valley, providing expanded access to Yosemite National Park and unlocking even more electric adventures to one of the largest and most undisturbed natural habitats in the Sierra Nevada.
“Rivian is investing in expanding access to charging to lead the EV industry towards better EV ownership experiences,” said Paul Frey, vice president of propulsion, charging, and adventure products at Rivian. “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."
Rivian’s new Charging Outpost was originally the site of a blacksmith shop in 1870, a little more than 20 years after Groveland got its start as a mining camp during the California Gold Rush era. An integral part of the community, the blacksmith shop created and repaired metal tools, utensils, wagons and other objects that were a part of daily life, according to Rivian.
When automobiles came along decades later, the building became an auto repair shop and then a gas station.
“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,” Guerrero said. “That’s why we fell in love with our Venice space and the South Coast Theater in Laguna. We’re always asking how we can give back or become stewards of things that existed before us. We’re so excited to join the existing fabric of the Groveland community.”
The team has also incorporated learning moments for visitors, with educational games that teach kids about the life span of materials and how long it takes for something to decompose.
“It was fun to sit and consider the things that people would want to do while they are charging,” said Guerrero. “We were always thinking about places to eat outside, a place for kids to play and engage, or a place for pets to take a walk and stretch their legs.”
The Yosemite Charging Outpost is the first of several Charging Outposts Rivian plans to open in and around national parks and other high-traffic areas across the country.
“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,” Guerrero said.
Rivian is an EV manufacturer based in Irvine, California. It has plans for more than 3,500 DC fast chargers at approximately 600 sites and 10,000 Level 2 chargers in the United States and Canada.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.