First year with an Electric Vehicle

I did not just decide to get an Electric Vehicle (EV). The decision came after many years of research, watching every YouTube channel, visiting the major auto shows and talking to other owners of available makes and models. I kind of knew that I wanted a Rivian since the prototype was introduced many years ago at the New York International Auto Show. When the 2^nd generation of the pickup (and SUV) was released mid-2024, I scheduled a test drive (link below) and absolutely fell in love with the vehicle, came home and placed my order. It took 12 weeks for Rivian to build the truck (plant in Normal, IL) and get it to New England. One year ago today, I took delivery of my first EV – the 2025 Rivian R1T pickup truck with an extended range battery. I have never owned an EV before and though I did all the research, I still maintained a low degree of anxiety through the first several months. It’s a year in, and I have to say, that anxiety is long gone. 

 

2025 Rivian R1T-Large  

Yes, it’s an EV, but that aside, just a wonderful, solid vehicle that is incredibly well constructed. A perfect daily driver and great hauler. I traded in my 2019 Nissan Frontier when I took delivery. The differences are stark; the Frontier was about $0.15 a mile to operate, the Rivian is $0.09. I would drive the Frontier an hour and feel like I was beat to crap by the time I got to my destination; stiff, sore. Nothing of the like in the R1T, just marvelous comfort. And there is no… difference… in the range. It is still ¾ of a “tank” to get out to Provincetown and back; same as with the Nissan. But instead of needing nearly $40 to fill it up, plugging in will run me about $10. Not bad for a vehicle that tips the scales at 8,500 pounds. 

 

LOVE the front! And yes, it has a "frunk". 

I am retired after 36 years in Information Technology (computer crap). An EV is essentially driving a computer on wheels. Much like every computer I ever owned or laid hands on (phone to mainframe), once in a while, you need to reboot the system. Same holds for the EV; once in a while, you do have to reboot the truck to fix something.

Yes, I actually WORKED on an IBM computer like that!

(From "The Desk Set" - a favorite movie.) 

Lastly, I am aging (turning 64 in a few weeks) and sense my acuity diminishing; so often in the Frontier, I would realized I just narrowly missed being in an accident because of my vision, blind spots and focus. This vehicle has all the warning bells and whistles, the visual indicators, the RADAR and traffic sensors, the automatic functions (emergency braking!) that intervene when I missed something. It feels safe to be on the road again. 

How it felt driving the Frontier. 

Would I do this again? Hell yes! Next to marrying my husband, moving to Rhode Island and retiring, this rates up there as one of the very best decisions I ever made in my life. 

 

Parked, charged up and ready to roll! 

 

I am glad to have gone through the process; if folks who read this blog are curious about EV’s, I highly recommend checking out the Rivian. They have “Experience” centers around the country where you can schedule a test drive, spend time climbing around the vehicles, ask every question you can think of – these are not dealerships or show rooms with sales people pressuring you to buy; just places to explore this particular world and type of vehicle. 

 

 

What's more, the company does good. It's not some photo-op or product placement.  They are working to make a change.  This is Rivian and America's Indigenous Blackfeet Nation buffalo restoration project: 

 

For more information: https://rivian.com/

Should you decide to go down the path with Rivian, I would appreciate the shout-out! Referral code: RADE1827875 

 

Onward!

Rade