Wireless chargers are sold by their peak rating: 15W, 25W, Qi2, Qi2.2. But inside a Rivian, a charger sitting in the console can only deliver what the console's USB-C port gives it. Nobody seemed to have published the actual number, so we measured it.
The setup
Rivian R1, Gen 1, center console USB-C port. A Power-Z inline USB-C power meter between the port and the charger. Two cables, same charger, same phone.
The numbers
| Cable | Voltage | Current | Power at the port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple USB-C cable | 5.15 V | 2.76 A | 14.2 W |
| Generic Amazon USB-C cable | 5.12 V | 1.22 A | 6.2 W |
Two things stood out. First, the port held 5 volts the entire time. It never negotiated a USB Power Delivery contract, which is what a charger needs to pull 9 V or 12 V for higher wattage. Second, the cable more than doubled or halved the result on its own.
What it means
- The console port sets the pace. On a Gen 1 R1, any charger sitting in the console draws about 14 W at the port. That's the same ceiling the factory pad lives under, and in practice it's plenty to gain charge over a normal drive.
- The cable matters more than the charger. A thin cable cut throughput by more than half. Use a short, quality USB-C cable. The chargers we ship come with one.
- Apple MagSafe or Qi2.2? Your call. Both chargers we offer are Qi2.2-certified and rated to 25 W, and in the console they charge at the same rate. Pick the one you prefer: the white Apple puck or the all-black Qi2.2 puck.
Gen 2
We haven't put the meter on a Gen 2 R1S console yet. When we do, this post will be updated with the numbers.
If you're looking for the mount we build around this port: Rivian R1S & R1T Adjustable MagSafe Console Charging Mount and Rivian R2 Adjustable MagSafe Console Charging Mount.
Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rivian Automotive, Inc. Rivian, R1S, R1T and R2 are trademarks of their respective owner.