In the charming, historic gold rush town of Groveland, California, Rivian has restored an abandoned gas station to create our first Charging Outpost — a unique, new kind of charging site designed for drivers to not just charge their EVs but to rest and refresh before hitting the road again.
During peak travel seasons, thousands of visitors pass through Groveland each day on their way to nearby adventures, most notably en 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.
Inside, visitors will find an inviting experience reminiscent of Rivian spaces across North America. There is a lounge area where guests can sit and relax while enjoying a book from an onsite library. Furniture is both comfortable and sustainable, made of upcycled, second-hand sleeping bags and puffer coats, and tables made of compressed sawdust.
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, visitors will find our five DC fast chargers and restrooms available 24 hours a day, as well as native plants and educational games that teach about sustainability.
The space’s design and thoughtfulness around sustainability help elevate the charging experience beyond that of your typical gas station or highway rest stop, said Liz Guerrero, Senior Director of Environments at Rivian.
“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,” Guerrero said. “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’s new Charging Outpost was originally the site of a blacksmith shop in 1870, a little over 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.
When automobiles came along decades later, the building became an auto repair shop and then a gas station. Knowing the spot had always served as a transportation hub to the community and those passing through is what drew Rivian to the project and wanting to restore it, said Guerrero.
During the restoration, teams at Rivian worked to create the minimum amount of waste when removing materials or using new ones.
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.
