Charging an electric vehicle at home should be a routine part of ownership. Unfortunately, a recent incident involving a Rivian R1S shows just how serious things can get when something goes wrong during the process.
Photos circulating on Reddit show the aftermath of a devastating fire that left a Rivian R1S with extensive damage to its front end. The flames also appear to have spread to a nearby garage, causing significant damage to the property.
The images were shared by a Reddit user who reportedly discovered the scene while walking their dog. According to the poster, a neighbor claimed the fire started while the electric SUV was charging through an extension cord.
That explanation has attracted plenty of attention, although the exact cause hasn’t been independently confirmed. Regardless of what investigators eventually determine, the incident raises an important question about the risks of using extension cords to charge electric vehicles.
The Rivian Was Almost Completely Destroyed
The photos show an R1S with its front bodywork severely burned, leaving much of the vehicle’s underlying structure exposed. The nearby garage also suffered extensive fire damage, suggesting the flames spread well beyond the SUV itself.
A neighbor said the extension cord overheated while the vehicle was charging. However, no official fire investigation report has been provided to establish whether the cord, charging equipment, electrical outlet, or another component actually started the fire.
There are also unanswered questions about the equipment involved, including the extension cord’s specifications and the electrical connection being used. Some Reddit commenters suggested it might have been a heavy-duty RV-style cable rather than a conventional household extension cord.
Fortunately, the person who shared the images said the vehicle’s owners were safe. That’s the most important detail in an incident that appears to have caused substantial financial damage.
Rivian Specifically Warns Against Extension Cords
Rivian’s charging instructions explicitly prohibit connecting its Portable Charger through an extension cord, power strip, power converter, or other adapter. The company also advises owners against using electrical outlets that are damaged, loose, or excessively worn.
There’s a good reason for those warnings. Rivian’s portable charging equipment can draw up to 32 amps from a suitable 240-volt outlet, delivering approximately 7.6 kW of charging power.
Unlike many household appliances, an EV charger can maintain a substantial electrical load for several hours. Undersized wiring, poor connections, or damaged plugs can generate dangerous amounts of heat under those conditions.
Even heavy-duty extension cords introduce additional connections that could become failure points. Although some cables are designed to handle significant electrical loads, that doesn’t override Rivian’s explicit instructions against using them with its portable charger.
A Costly Reminder About Charging Safety
The incident sparked debate among Reddit users about whether extension cords are inherently unsafe for EV charging. Some argued that properly rated cables can handle high electrical loads, while others pointed to the risks associated with poor connections and unsuitable equipment.
The distinction matters because the available evidence doesn’t establish that an extension cord caused this particular fire. A definitive explanation would require an investigation of the electrical equipment and surrounding circumstances.
For Rivian owners, the safest approach is to follow the manufacturer’s charging instructions and use a properly installed, compatible outlet or dedicated home charging station. Anyone who needs a longer charging reach should consult a qualified electrician rather than improvising with an extension cord.
Whatever ultimately caused this R1S to burn, the photographs are a sobering reminder that EV charging equipment deserves the same attention as any other high-power electrical installation. At least, according to the original Reddit account, everyone involved escaped without injury.