A few years ago, Rivian showcased an amazing, purpose-built modular kitchen that was made to fit like a glove inside the R1T’s gear tunnel–that’s the full-width storage space between the electric pickup’s bed and passenger compartment.
It had an integrated dual-burner induction cooktop, a sink and a full set of pots and pans. It was innovative and went hand in hand with Rivian’s adventure-ready image. Unfortunately, that product didn’t make it into customers’ hands but the California-based company didn’t give up on the idea. Say hello, then, to the new travel kitchen, which will be available soon.
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Purpose-built camping accessories
Rivian bills itself as a maker of adventure-ready vehicles. This usually involves camping somewhere remote, which is why the company is working on a purpose-built travel kitchen.
To the best of my knowledge, the product was first showcased this past weekend at the meet-and-greet organized by Rivian in Pasadena, where the updated R1S and upcoming R2 were shown to the public. Thanks to Brian Tong, who published a video of the portable kitchen on his YouTube channel, we get to see all the details of the new camping accessory.
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According to the Rivian reps who spoke with Tong, the travel kitchen will be available starting this week in the company’s shop for a price of $1,400. For that kind of money, you get a two-burner induction cooktop, a small handle for towels and utensils, a small drawer that houses a chopping board and cutlery, as well as a set of dimmable LED lights. When not in use, the camp kitchen can be folded and stored in a tailor-made bag.
In the video embedded at the top of this page, the travel kitchen cooktop was hooked up to one of the power outlets in the trunk of the R1S and was secured on the tailgate through the hooks that normally keep the hatch closed.
Rivian Travel Kitchen (Source: Brian Tong / YouTube)
We don’t know how the accessory will integrate with the R1T pickup’s tailgate, but when it comes to the upcoming R2 and smaller R3, official photos that were published earlier this year showed the kitchen sitting on top of a separate storage box that Rivian said will snap into place using dedicated latch points. That box also had a water tank, a cooler and plenty of storage for pans, but we don’t know if for $1,400 you also get the box and all the goodies inside.
We’ll know more details about Rivian’s new travel kitchen when the product lands in the company’s online store. Until then, you can head over to the comments section to let us know what you think.
Gallery: Rivian Travel Kitchen
Update: Rivian has released Images (above) and official information on this travel kitchen. The release is posted in its entirety below. We should note that no mention is made of compatibility with the upcoming R2 or R3 models. Though there's no indication it won't work with those models either. Since it can plug in to a conventional outlet, it should work with any vehicle that is capable of outputting 1,500 watts from a 120V outlet:
Introducing Rivian’s Travel Kitchen: A New Cooking Companion for Every Adventure
Rivian's products enable adventure with family and friends. But what happens after you've arrived at your destination? Designed to be the perfect cooking companion, Rivian’s Travel Kitchen is a way to bring family, friends, and food together, no matter where you end up.
Whether you’ve been exploring in your Rivian, or walked a few blocks to picnic at a park, this new fold out induction cooktop makes it easy to prepare everything from a simple snack to an epic feast. That’s because it is optimized for R1 tailgates but can fit on any tabletop surface. Easy to carry and ready to use with little to no set up, our Travel Kitchen includes a carrying case, customizable Hangout Lights and poles, cutting board, as well as drawers and inserts to help keep you organized on the go.
How it works
The two-burner induction cooktop can be powered by R1 vehicles or any 120V power source with 15A of current, so you can host an unforgettable meal anywhere. The two induction burners are optimized to share 1500W, with the ability to use all power on one burner or share power between the two. The heating system heats up food quickly, so you can chef up anything you would create on a traditional stovetop. With a capacitive touch control panel that can be locked out and features that only transfer heat with an induction pot on a burner, the Travel Kitchen provides the ultimate cooking experience.
“Rivian vehicles inspire a spirit of adventure. With our new Travel Kitchen, we want to give everyone the confidence to explore and bring friends and family together around food. We set out to create a cooktop that was functional, while still being uniquely Rivian and feeding into that lifestyle.” — Jeff Hammoud, Chief Design Officer
Designed with convenience in mind
Thanks to a streamlined design, Travel Kitchen is carried like a briefcase, conveniently unfolds onto tailgates, and stows perfectly into R1T gear tunnels, R1 front trunks, or any trunk, when not in use. It provides a seamless setup for outdoor cooking and dining, with ergonomic handles for easy carrying. Plus, the food-safe prep space was created to remain level and stable on R1 tailgates, eliminating the need for latching directly to the vehicle.
We prioritized sustainable materials wherever we could. Our cutting board is made from recycled materials and the inside of the kitchen is made from castor plants. Induction cooktops are also inherently better for the environment than wood or gas options. Without needing propane or an open flame, they reduce carbon emissions and minimize the risk of accidental fires.
“We applied the same rigorous standards used to test, develop, and build our vehicles to our Travel Kitchen. It was designed from the outset to travel wherever your adventure takes you.” — Lindsey Cross, Staff Mechanical Engineer, Adventure Products
Special touches
Food brings people together. We wanted to build a product full of unique touches to enhance your adventure, and your meal. Our dimmable Hangout Lights and retractable poles can be set up for nighttime cooking, or easily stowed away in the storage drawer. The swing out carrying handle doubles as a practical and aesthetic place to hang a towel while cooking.
Travel Kitchen is available today for $1,400. Look out for our expanding Adventure Gear assortment coming soon.