Rivian has used adventure as its calling card, be it rock crawling with its new quad-motor R1T all-electric truck or camping in its battery-powered R1S SUV. Both vehicles feature extra plugs, extra exterior lights and connection points for tents and other gear while far away from civilization.
When the pickup first was launched it showed off a concept camp kitchen, customized to the R1T, bringing nearly a full suite of cooktops and food prep areas for those that want to have a chef-made meal in the wild. For the second generation of pickup and SUV, which premiered earlier this year, Rivian offers a Travel Kitchen option, with many of the same appliances, but portable.
The new pop-up induction cooktop makes it easy to prepare “everything from a simple snack to an epic feast,” according to Rivan. It was specially engineered for Rivian vehicles, but will fit on any tabletop surface within reach of a plug, of which the R1T has several. It comes with a carrying case, customizable Hangout Lights and poles, cutting board, as well as a drawer and insert to help keep cooks organized.
The cooktop features two burners that can be powered by R1 vehicles or any 120V power source with 15A of current. Rivian says the burners are optimized to share 1500 watts, or with one using all of the power. A capacitive touch control panel that can be locked out keeps guests safe while the induction setup will only transfer heat to a special induction pot on the burner.
The Travel Kitchen is easy to set up on the R1T’s tailgate and stows into its Gear Tunnel when not in use. Rivian’s special Gear Tunnel storage space is situated between the bed and cab area and measures the width of the truck. Rivian adds that the food-safe prep space was created to remain level and stable on tailgates, so it doesn’t need to be attached to a vehicle.
The organizer drawer includes a place to store cooking items, a cutting board, and storage bag while a pop-out bar provides a place to hang a towel while cooking.
In keeping with Rivian’s eco-adventure theme, it used sustainable materials in the kitchen including recycled materials for the cutting board and castor plants inside. Induction cooktops are also better for the environment than wood or gas. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, it also reduces the risk of a fire in the wilderness.
The Travel Kitchen is available now from Rivian for $1,400 and technically buyers don’t need to own a Rivian as any 120-volt outlet will do. Those types of outlets are becoming more common by the day on vehicles both electric and traditional. The company also sells accessories like aprons, cooking utensils, blankets, cutting boards and more.
-Lingeman, J. (2024, August 19). Yes, chef! rivian’s travel kitchen allows for gourmet meals in the wild. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/yes-chef-rivians-travel-kitchen-allows-gourmet-meals-wild-1940262
This is such a fun design! I love that they went back and updated it to make it better and didn’t just leave it at good enough. Accessories like this give me a lot of inspiration to design for my capstone, and it also brings back the whole Van Life concept to my mind. Someone could still do van life without even needing a van and just using their existing truck or SUV now that there are great add-ons like this coming out. This also encourages simply going camping with your car and getting outside, which is important in our increasingly indoor lives. Something like this would be a great way to utilize the front trunk space, either for a fold-out cooking setup or cooking supplies.
