Rivian's 2025.38 Update Simplifies Charging with Plug & Charge at EA and IONNA
Rivian's latest over-the-air update brings Plug & Charge compatibility to Electrify America and IONNA networks, removing friction from public DC fast charging for R1T and R1S owners.
Rivian began rolling out its 2025.38 software update to R1T trucks and R1S SUVs on October 19, 2025, and the headline feature is one that owners have been requesting for years: native Plug & Charge support at Electrify America and IONNA DC fast-charging stations.
The update, which Rivian has been testing with select owners for the past two weeks, allows drivers to simply plug in at a participating Electrify America or IONNA station and have the session authenticate automatically — no apps, no QR codes, no credit card tapping. The vehicle and charger handshake using the Plug & Charge standard, and billing goes to the payment method on file with Rivian’s account.
“This is how it should have worked from day one,” one R1T owner wrote on the Rivian forum after receiving the update. “I pulled up to an EA station, plugged in, and that was it. No friction.”
What the Update Includes
Beyond Plug & Charge, the 2025.38 release adds several quality-of-life improvements:
Real-time charger status on the navigation map — The Rivian navigation system now displays live availability and power output data for Electrify America and IONNA stations along your route. If a station has only one working dispenser or is running at reduced power, you’ll see it before you commit to the detour.
Automatic charge initiation — With a valid credit card attached to your Rivian account, the vehicle will automatically begin charging once plugged in at a supported network. No confirmation step required.
Climate Hold — A new feature that lets the vehicle maintain cabin temperature at a set level while parked for an extended period, drawing from the wall box rather than the battery. Particularly useful for camp mode scenarios where you want climate control without drawing down the traction battery.
Auto Cabin Ventilation — When the vehicle detects that cabin temperatures are elevated after parking, it can automatically activate ventilation to cycle fresh air through the interior, reducing the time you’ll spend in a hot car when you return.
Customizable App Launcher — Owners can now pin their most-used apps to the left side of the display, a small but meaningful improvement for daily usability.
Happy Haunting! — A limited-time Halloween-themed mode with exterior light animations and themed sound profiles. Rivian has a track record of seasonal Easter eggs, and this one appears to lean into the spooky aesthetic.
The IONNA Context
IONNA is the charging network joint venture established by eight automakers — BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota — as a counterweight to Tesla’s Supercharger dominance. The network is rapidly expanding, with more than 200 stations open as of October 2025 and a target of over 30,000 chargers by 2030. Rivian’s integration is significant: it means Rivian owners can use the same plug-and-charge seamless experience that IONNA’s founding automakers are building into their own vehicles.
The decision to add IONNA support was also strategic. Rivian’s charging infrastructure strategy has increasingly leaned on partnerships rather than proprietary networks. While Rivian maintains its own Adventure Network of chargers for owners, adding IONNA to the vehicle’s native experience broadens the charging ecosystem accessible without third-party apps.
Charging Performance on Gen 2 Vehicles
For Gen 2 R1T and R1S owners on the update, charging performance remains consistent with existing capabilities. The Gen 2 Large Pack can accept DC fast charging at up to approximately 210-215 kW peak on a capable charger. On a 350 kW dispenser, the R1T can add roughly 100 miles of range in about 15-20 minutes under ideal conditions. AC charging is limited by the onboard charger to about 11.5 kW, meaning a full charge from empty on a Level 2 home charger takes roughly 8-10 hours depending on pack size.
The update does not appear to change the charging curve itself, but the ability to simply plug in and walk away removes one of the most consistent friction points in the EV ownership experience.
How to Get the Update
The 2025.38 update is rolling out over-the-air to all Gen 1 and Gen 2 R1 vehicles. Owners should see a notification on their vehicle’s display when the update is ready to install. Rivian recommends installing while the vehicle is plugged in and has at least 20% state of charge to ensure the process completes without interruption. Estimated installation time is 30-45 minutes.
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