The American manufacturer Rivian has just finalized the acquisition of the route planning application A Better Route Planner (ABRP). This is now available on electric cars in the range, but this worries the owners of other electric models who used this application. We explain to you why this is such an important subject for the development of the electric car.
If it is no longer important to have a great autonomy on an electric car, it is still essential to be able to count on the network of charging stations. And for that, you still have to find them. This is where route planners come in, which allow you to plan a route by taking into account the outlets where you can plug in, but not only.
A new feature
While some manufacturers offer this functionality natively on their cars, such as Audi with its Q8 e-tron that we recently tested or Tesla and Renault with its Mégane E-Tech running Android Automotive, this is not the case for all. For those, apps exist to help drivers plan their trip with confidence. Among them, A Better Route Planner, also known as ABRP.
This tool is reputed to be currently one of the most powerful on the market in its field and can be used by everyone. on a smartphone or computer, in anticipation of a trip. However, it is quite difficult to learn, and its general public version is the French Chargemap application, although much less complete. But now ABRP has just been acquired by a manufacturer specializing in electric carsa few days after the announcement of the site Electrek.
The media explained that the American brand was finalizing the acquisition of ABRP. It is now done, as announced by the manufacturer via a press release. In another official communication, this time visible on its site Rivian announces that this functionality is already available with the latest update of its electric cars.
And unsurprisingly, the app retains the same functionality, now integrated directly into the infotainment system of the R1T and R1S. All you have to do is enter your destination to be able to access various information, such as the distance that can be traveled with the remaining range or the places where you can plug in your car and the time needed to fill the battery.
But Rivian was not satisfied with just integrating the application, as Polestar was able to do, for example. The application is much easier to use at Rivian thanks to a completely redesigned interface.
And for the others?
Using this new feature
is broadly similar to those for all other trip planners. It also tells you more basic information, such as the estimated arrival at your final destination, as is the case on Waze or Google Maps. Rivian’s press release also explains that it is possible to choose the autonomy you want to keep on arrival.
Owners of the brand’s models will also be able to select their preferred network of charging stations and avoid highways, tolls and other ferries for example. It is possible to save these preferences only for the journey that will be made or until further notice via the settings of the application. Finally, customers can also prepare their trip via their mobile then send it directly to their vehicle.
Rivian takes a step ahead of Tesla, since the American giant’s route planner does not allow you to choose the battery level on arrival at a terminal or at your destination. And it also does not allow the use of any network other than the Tesla Superchargers.
This takeover presents a real advantage for ABRP, which will no doubt be able to develop and offer new features in the future. But this one also worries owners of electric cars from other brands, who fear that the application will be over. reserved for Rivian vehicles only. But this does not seem to be the case for the moment, since Rivian announces the continuation of the development of ABRP as an independent application.
The firm is currently in full mutation, having separated from Mercedes a few months earlier. In particular, it wishes to conquer the European market with a brand new model designed for our territory. In addition, it announced a few days ago to part with its Tank Turn function, for surprising ecological reasons.
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