Who doesn’t love a cold ice cream? Now you can get one delivered by an electric vehicle
Rivian, known for building electric delivery vans exclusively for Amazon since 2019, is now expanding its reach after its four-year exclusivity deal with the retail giant ended. One of its first new customers is none other than ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s, introducing a modern twist to the traditional ice cream truck.
The newly rebranded Rivian Commercial Van (RCV) has been customized in collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s and will debut at the South by Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin, Texas, this week. While the exact number of vans ordered remains undisclosed, two units will hit the road post-SXSW, bringing ice cream and good vibes to Rivian communities across the U.S., as well as attending pop-up events in Vermont.
The vans are based on Rivian’s RCV 500 model, powered by a 100kWh LFP battery, offering a range of 161 miles (259 km). Rivian also offers a larger RCV 700 version, which is 30 inches longer. The exterior of the ice cream van features a vibrant Ben & Jerry’s livery and an additional air conditioning unit on the roof to keep the treats cool.
Brian Gase, Rivian’s senior director of Prototype Development, expressed excitement about the partnership, saying, “Collaborating with the Ben & Jerry’s team to create the next generation of electric scoop trucks has been an incredible experience. We’re excited for people to see it in action and enjoy some ice cream during SXSW.”
Sean Slattery, Ben & Jerry’s US Integrated Marketing project lead, added, “Partnering with Rivian, a company equally dedicated to sustainability, is a dream come true for us. Today, we’ve taken a small but meaningful step toward reducing our reliance on fossil fuels while keeping things cooler — which, as an ice cream company, is quite the feat.”
