Overcome Charging Issues w/ an Electric Vehicle - Experienced By One Customer & Resolved Quickly by Rivian Service Center
Rivian's electric vehicles have been praised for their performance and convenience, but one customer recently encountered a problem with their vehicle's charging system. After using the app to view the charging session summary from the night before, they received an error message that said something like "closing the app will lose communication with the vehicle". When they opened the app again, there was a red indicator saying "vehicle error" and the truck wouldn't charge. After trying several times, they called service and rebooted the truck, but still had the same issue.
The customer then tried a CCS charger at a local mall, which worked well. They also tried the included portable charger on 110v, but still had the same issue. Fortunately, they were able to find a 50kw evgo ccs charger and were able to charge their vehicle at 85mi/hr rate of charge.
The customer then heard about another person having a similar experience with their Tesla charger and Lectron adaptor. This person took their vehicle to a Tesla Level 2 charger at a gym in their town and it charged like a champ at 50amps. They then took it to a Chargepoint level2 charger and it charged up perfectly without the Lectron adaptor in the middle.
The customer then tried the Chargepoint level2 charger at a local high school, but still had the same issue. After getting a service appointment scheduled for Monday at the Chelsea service center, Rivian provided them with a rental car while they fixed the onboard charger. The customer was able to pick up their vehicle Tuesday afternoon and is now back to square one!
This story serves as an important reminder that electric vehicles can sometimes encounter charging issues. Thankfully, Rivian provides excellent customer service and was able to quickly resolve this issue for this customer. If you ever experience any charging issues with your electric vehicle, make sure to contact your manufacturer's service center as soon as possible so that they can help you get back on the road quickly and safely.
What happened when I opened the app again after closing it?
When you opened the app again, there was a red indicator “vehicle error” and the vehicle wouldn't charge.
What did I try to solve the issue?
You tried a CCS charger, the included portable charger on 110v, and a Chargepoint level2 charger at a local high school.
How did I eventually fix the issue?
You got a service appointment scheduled for Monday at the Chelsea service center. Rivian provided a rental car and replaced the onboard charger. After that, you were able to charge again at home.
Is there any advice for others who might have a similar issue?
If you experience a similar issue, check the voltage at home with a multimeter and leave the portable charger plugged into the vehicle and unplug from source/outlet to reset it. If that doesn't work, contact Rivian customer service and schedule a service appointment.