Admiral - Walker

Introduction

Part of the series to visit and review all the Rivian Adventure Network sites in Michigan.  Instead of the expensive Rivian site I stopped at second NEVI site opened in Michigan.  Site visit conducted on September 28, 2025.

Business/Location Name: Admiral

Address: 2366 Alpine Ave NW, Walker, MI 49544

Network: Red E Charge

Station Details: 4 Stalls (2 dispensers with 2 ports; total 640kW site power)

Cost: $0.45 per kWh

The Admiral – Walker station was the 2nd charging stop on this trip.  Just a little down the street the Rivian units are placed next to the Electrify America chargers. (Site opened in July 2025).  

Accessibility

The Admiral site is in street side corner of the gas station parking lot.  The site is 0.7 miles from I-96 at exit 30.  South from the exit straight down Walker Ave on the east side of the street.    Four ports with two built in J3400 adapters.  One stall is signed use last and designated for accessible use.  No stall designed for pull thru parking.

Amenities

Dining options include: Wendy’s

Shopping options include: None

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air): Admiral gas station

Concentration

The new standard for Red E Charge NEVI locations.  Four ports across two dispensers.  Each dispenser can take half the total power cabinet output power of 640kW, or 320kW.  That 320kW can be split in half to provide 160kW to each port.  The four ports here added to the 6 EA ports and 6 Rivian plugs gives 16 total charging stalls at this exit.

Location

This site supports I-96 and is close enough to potentially support US-131.  At about 165 miles to Detroit and 180 miles to Chicago.  North 140 miles from here along US-131 is Traverse City.

50 Mile Loop:

150 Mile Range Estimate:

Speed

The Autel DC HiPower units used at these sites have a power cabinet that supports 640kW total output power.  The power can be split and dispensed in 80kW increments.  Each dispenser supports output of 320kW.  Cables are 400A nominal with boost to 500A, enabling even 400V architecture vehicles to get their best speeds.  At this site there is a 750kVA transformer, that provides plenty of power to the site to charge cars quickly.

(190kW at 64% is great charging speed in the Ioniq 6)

Summary

On this visit, there was a brand new Ioniq 5 charging.  The driver was using his provided CCS to J3400 adaptor.  I pointed out that there were the built in adaptors at the site and he didn’t need to bring an adaptor with to change a native J3400 connector vehicle here.  The price of free was too much to avoid the less than 2-minute diversion from the Rivian site I was reviewing on the trip and the high cost of charging at that site.  I enjoyed the stop and charged up a bit before heading northward to my next stop in Traverse City.

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $0.00

Total kWh: 37.1kWh

Time: 12.66 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 176kW

Cost per kWh: $0.00

[36% to 81%]

(The site was still in test/confirmation mode during my visit, so the charging was free, but now the official cost is $0.45/kWh + 6% tax)

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
30	B	5	4	21

Alternatives:

Meijer - 2425 Alpine Ave NW, Walker, MI 49544 - $0.56/kWh – 350kW x 6 (Electrify America)

Meijer - 2425 Alpine Ave NW, Walker, MI 49544 - $0.67/kWh – 300kW x 6 (Rivian Adventure)

Questions or Comments:

dantheevman@gmail.com

Landmark Plaza – Saginaw

Introduction

Part of the series to visit and review all the Rivian Adventure Network sites in Michigan, post the upgrades to all sites to support all electric vehicles.  Site visit conducted on September 29, 2025.

Business/Location Name	Landmark Plaza
Address	2772 Tittabawassee Rd, Saginaw, MI 48604
Network	Rivian Adventure Network
Station Details	6 Stalls (2 sets of 3 dispensers, each share 300kW; total 600kW site power)
Cost	$0.60 per kWh, $0.51 per kWh for Rivian vehicles

The Landmark Plaza – Saginaw station was the 7th charging stop (Originally opened June 2023.  This station opened to all electric vehicles in May 2025).  

Accessibility

The Landmark Plaza site is in the parking lot of this strip mall location.  The site is 1 mile from I-675 at exit 6.  West from the exit along Tittabawassee Rd.  North side of the road in the middle of the large parking lot.  Five stalls in a row with angled parking and one dedicated pull through parking stall.  The angled parking and need for back in parking for some vehicles make navigating the parking lot a little difficult at times.

Amenities

Dining options include: Leo’s Coney Island, Firehouse Subs, McDonald’s, Bob Evans, Qdoba, Chuck E Cheese, Panera Bread, Buffalo Wild Wings

Shopping options include: Target, Staples, Plato’s Closet, GameStop, Cabela’s, 

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air): None

Concentration

This is the latest standard 6 station layout for Rivian.  There are several pull-in stalls and a pull through stall for those pulling a trailer.  The longer cables on the second-generation hardware remove most concerns about cables reaching charge ports.  There is a benefit that there are 6 units, but with power being limited in the future this may want to be split to more dispensers.

Location

This site supports I-675, which is a loop route of I-75.  As part of a loop line, it is not directly on the major highway, but the deviation is minor.  Major city distances from this stop:  110 miles to Detroit, 95 miles to Lansing, 120 miles to Grand Rapids, 100 miles to Grayling and 165 miles to Traverse City.

50 Mile Loop:

150 Mile Range Estimate:

Speed

The Rivian sites follow a standard layout for speed/power.  There are six dispensers that are configured in trios(A/B/C).  Two power cabinets can then each split power between three linked dispensers.  Each set shares a combined 300kW output.  The dispensers have liquid cooled cables supporting 500A.  Unless a site is full, most vehicles on the market today are going to arrive and be delivered with all the power they can request.  Here the 750kVA transformer will allow the site to operate a full power output without any restrictions.

Summary

The final stop of this trip, and another excellent charge.  Just 5 minutes took me from 26% to 45% or more.  To end the trip, at this site I also saw another vehicle charging, in this case it was a Tesla Model Y.  I think the closest Tesla station may be the V2 site in Bay City, so while this site might be more expensive for this driver, it is very likely this site was both more convenient and faster to charge.  I enjoyed my time testing out the Rivian Adventure Network and would use them again in the future.  However, until the pricing becomes more advantageous, I will not use them in planning trips.

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $9.99

Total kWh: 16.6483 kWh

Time: 5 min

Average Charge Speed: 199.8 kW

Cost per kWh: $0.60

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
34	A	5	5	24

Alternatives:

Time Square Plaza – 3430 State St, Saginaw, MI 48602 - $0.49/kWh ($0.50 session) – 200kW x 1 (Monta)

Flying J – 3475 E Washington Rd, Saginaw, MI 48601 - $0.51/kWh ($1.00 session) – 350kW x 4 (EVgo)

Questions or Comments:

dantheevman@gmail.com

Culver’s – Clare

Introduction

Part of the series to visit and review all the Rivian Adventure Network sites in Michigan, post the upgrades to all sites to support all electric vehicles. Site visit on September 29, 2025.

Business/Location Name	Culver’s
Address	10401 S Clare Ave, Clare, MI 48617
Network	Rivian Adventure Network
Station Details	6 Stalls (2 sets of 3 dispensers, each share 300kW; total 600kW site power)
Cost	$0.60 per kWh, $0.51 per kWh for Rivian vehicles

The Culver’s – Clare station was the 6th charging stop (Originally opened April 2023.  This station opened to all electric vehicles in May 2025).  

Accessibility

The Culver’s in Clare site is in the parking lot behind the restaurant.  The site is 0.5 miles from US-127 at exit 160.  South from the exit on the east side of the road.  Since the site is located in the back parking lot, it is not easy to see the chargers from the main road.  Five stalls in a row with perpendicular parking and one dedicated pull through parking stall.

Amenities

Dining options include: Culver’s, Taco Bell, Bigby Coffee

Shopping options include: Aldi, AutoZone

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air):  Shell gas station across the street

Concentration

This is the latest standard 6 station layout for Rivian.  There are several pull-in stalls and a pull through stall for those pulling a trailer.  The longer cables on the second-generation hardware remove most concerns about cables reaching charge ports.  There is a benefit that there are 6 units, but with power being limited in the future this may want to be split to more dispensers.

Location

This site supports US-127 and north/south travel through the middle of the state.  At about 90 miles to Lansing and 145 miles to Mackinaw City, this site provides an excellent starting point for many adventures northward.  The 60 mile spacing to the Rivian site in Grayling, even lower range EVs pulling trailers can manage adventures.

50 Mile Loop:

150 Mile Range Estimate:

Speed

The Rivian sites follow a standard layout for speed/power.  There are six dispensers that are configured in trios(A/B/C).  Two power cabinets can then each split power between three linked dispensers.  Each set shares a combined 300kW output.  The dispensers have liquid cooled cables supporting 500A.  Unless a site is full, most vehicles on the market today are going to arrive and be delivered with all the power they can request.  Here the 1000kVA transformer provides all the power needed for a potential 600kW max output location, with room to grow if needed.

Summary

I made a quick stop at the next door drive thru Bigby for a coffee before stopping to charge at this location. With a warm pack and a 37% - 65% charge, I averaged the best I have seen in a long time of 200kW for the full charge session. The back parking lot is wide open and the one pull thru spot seems very easy to access.  There is also one level 2 unit at this location.  You could do a fast charge and then plug into the slower charger to have a longer meal. 

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $13.07

Total kWh: 21.7818 kWh

Time: 6.5 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 201 kW

Cost per kWh: $0.60

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
27	B	5	2	20

Alternatives:

Shell - 10400 S Clare Ave, Clare 48617 - $0.35/kWh – 62.5kW x 2 (ChargePoint)

Marathon - 428 S McEwan St, Clare, MI 48617 - $0.45/kWh – 240kW x 2 (Red E Charge)

Questions or Comments:

dantheevman@gmail.com