Rivian and Ben & Jerry’s: A Sweet Partnership on Wheels
Ben & Jerry’s and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian are joining forces to create a new generation of ice cream trucks, dubbed “scoop trucks.” These trucks will be built using Rivian’s RCV-series commercial vans, the same electric delivery vans that Amazon has been using for a few years. The new scoop trucks are slated to debut at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, from March 7 to March 15, 2025.
After SXSW, the trucks will be deployed around the country to support Rivian community events and Ben & Jerry’s promotional events.
“Collaborating with the Ben & Jerry’s team to build the next generation of electric scoop trucks has been an incredible experience. It’s one of those projects that just makes the team smile,” said Brian Gase, Senior Director of Prototype Development at Rivian. “We can’t wait for people to stop by for some ice cream and see it in action for the first time during SXSW!”
A Natural Match
The partnership between Rivian and Ben & Jerry’s seems like a natural fit. Ben & Jerry’s has a stated commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability as part of its core values: “Human Rights & Dignity”, “Social & Economic Justice”, and “Environmental Protection, Restoration, & Regeneration.” Partnering with an EV company helps the ice cream maker further those goals.
Rivian’s Commercial Van Line
The creation of the B&J scoop trucks follows Rivian’s recent decision to sell its RCV-series vans to any business that wants to buy them. Although Rivian initially only sold these vans to large commercial fleets, the van is now available for sale to all businesses.
The RCV-series includes two models: the
- RCV 500
- RCV 700
The numbers refer to the cubic feet of storage capacity, which are 487 and 652 respectively, and the total carry weight is about 2,500 pounds. The vans have a respectable range of 150 miles (700 model) and 161 miles (500 model). The vans can charge at stations with either J1172 or CCS1 connectors, with fast charging speeds up to 100 kW.
The RCV-series vans boast the same friendly styling of Amazon’s EDV vans. While Rivian plans to also sell the RCV-series vans to individuals, for the time being, they are only available for businesses. While this is a missed opportunity for some, this means they will likely be seen in the livery of local plumbers, florists, and other small businesses soon.
