Rivian Ready? Amazon Hub Charging Stations Spied | The Daily Drive | Consumer Guide® The Daily Drive

A tiny over a 12 months in the past, my neighbors and I lamented the design of an Amazon shipping and delivery facility not extra than three blocks from our homes. To our relief, the now-operational warehouse and shipping and delivery middle has not diminished our high quality of everyday living in any meaningful fashion. It’s a significant sucker, even though, boasting just about 200 loading docks and serving as home to possibly 200 delivery vans. About individuals vans…

Far more electric-auto news and evaluations

Amazon Hub Charging Stations

I recently drove past that Amazon “Hub,” and took detect for the 1st time of a big, virtually vacant area of the surrounding lot that was outfitted with what appeared to be electrical-motor vehicle (EV) charging stations—a lot of them. Intrigued, I executed a authorized U-change, and did a small trespassing.

But ahead of we get into the specifics of my snooping all around, a little back again tale: Amazon has been speaking about going to an electric powered supply fleet for a although now. As section of a much larger program for the corporation to realize complete carbon neutrality by 2040, Amazon contracted with EV startup Rivian back in 2019 for 100,000 electric powered supply vans, to be shipped around a period of time of several years. The initial of individuals vans are reportedly remaining sent afterwards this calendar year.

The Rivian EDV, as the van is reportedly dubbed, will be offered in 500-, 700-, and 900-cubic-foot configurations, and have an approximated variety of 120-150 miles. If that assortment looks a minimal limited, contemplate that the average UPS truck is almost never pushed far more than 100 miles in a working day, and most are pushed only 50-60 miles.

Amazon, by the way, has a 20-% possession stake in Rivian. Until finally a short while ago, Ford Motor Enterprise also held a stake in Rivian, but is in the process of divesting alone of the startup’s stock.

Back to the snooping. Passing the “no entry” symptoms, I entered a backlot (which, by 9:00 AM, was now absent of most of the vans parked there overnight) and came to what was in fact a broad charging space.

Grouped in units of 4 chargers, the stations ended up basic plenty of, and I counted 26 of them. So, this facility is prepared to charge up to 96 electrical shipping autos at 1 time. Most attention-grabbing, to me at least, is that these are Degree 2 charging stations, not Amount 3 DC rapidly chargers.

This makes a great deal of perception, basically. Though a DC speedy charger would deliver a shipping-van battery to a almost comprehensive point out of cost in a lot less than an hour, there is no these kinds of urgency for vans that won’t be pushed much more than 100 miles every day and are parked right away. Stage 2 charging, which is what most EV homeowners will set up in their house garages, will thoroughly charge the 80-or-so kWh battery in the Rivian vans in less than 12 several hours.

Plug-in Standpoint: Electric Pickup Trucks in Profile

And while a one Stage 3 charging station can value $50,000 to install, Amount 2 stations like these seen here can value as minor as $500 per line—though the value of jogging ability traces underneath the pavement most likely adds significantly to that value.

My investigation was minimize short by a man in an orange vest strolling promptly in direction of my car or truck, but I experienced witnessed more than enough. Electrical “last-mile” delivery vans would before long be charging in this article.

CES 2022: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV

Apparently, Amazon recently designed public its plans to obtain the first Ram ProMaster EV vans when they become accessible in the U.S. for the 2023 product 12 months. So, now it’s a race. Which van will I see charging to start with at my community Amazon Hub: Rivian or Ram ProMaster? I’ll hold you posted.

Check out the Purchaser Tutorial Motor vehicle Things Podcast

Amazon Hub Charging Stations Gallery

(Simply click underneath for enlarged illustrations or photos)

Amazon Hub Charging Stations

What is BrightDrop?

Amazon Hub Charging Stations

Car Things Podcast