Ben & Jerry’s Replaces ICE Vehicles with Rivian Van | Carscoops

      Everyone enjoys a cold ice cream, and it's now possible to get one from an electric vehicle.

      9 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      This specialized van is built on Rivian’s RCV 500 platform and is equipped with a 100 kWh battery pack.

      An additional air conditioning unit has been added to maintain a cool temperature.

      The first two vans will be utilized at pop-up events across Vermont.

      Rivian initially created its Electric Delivery van solely for Amazon, after forming a partnership with the retail giant in 2019 to provide over 100,000 units. However, with the conclusion of the four-year exclusivity agreement, Rivian can now sell the EV to other companies, with one of its first new clients being Ben & Jerry’s. What you are seeing, ladies and gentlemen, is a modern ice cream truck.

      The electric vehicle, now simply referred to as the Rivian Commercial Van, has been customized in collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s and will debut at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, this week. There is no information on the total number of these 'scoop trucks' ordered, but it has been confirmed that two units will be introduced on the road after SXSW, “bringing good eats and good vibes to the Rivian community nationwide.” They will also feature at pop-up events throughout Vermont.

      Read: $80k Will Get You A 315 HP Rivian Delivery Van

      No interior images have been released, but the exterior showcases a vibrant Ben & Jerry’s design along with an additional rooftop air conditioning unit.

      “Collaborating with the Ben & Jerry’s team to create the next generation of electric scoop trucks has been a fantastic experience,” stated Brian Gase, senior director of Prototype Development at Rivian. “We are excited for people to come by for some ice cream and see it in operation for the first time during SXSW!”

      The vans are based on Rivian’s RCV 500 model, which features a 100 kWh LFP battery pack that offers a range of 161 miles (259 km). Rivian also offers an RCV 700 version, which is 30 inches longer than the RCV 500, measuring a substantial 278 inches.

      “Partnering with Rivian, a leading company dedicated to sustainability, is an ice cream dream come true,” commented Sean Slattery, Ben & Jerry’s US Integrated Marketing project lead. “Today, Rivian has aided Ben & Jerry’s in lowering our dependency on fossil fuels in a small way, while also keeping things a bit cooler… which is quite a challenge for an ice cream business.”