PEORIA, Ill. – The Rivian plant in Normal has made an important delivery.
It’s delivered 20 electric pick-up trucks to Ameren — ten for its Illinois territory, ten for its Missouri territory — as the utility gradually moves to an all-electric fleet by 2030.
Given that Rivian has been in the news for not making production targets, Rivian officials say they have a good feeling about this.
“I think it’s a significant moment that two of the largest employers in Central Illinois are able to support each other,” said Zach Dietmeier, Senior Communications Manager, Rivian. “Ameren provides the electricity for our main plant property in Normal. For us to be getting more of those (electric vehicles) out there around the Peoria area, and across Central Illinois, is a big moment for us.”
Dietmeier says about a fifth of Rivian’s 7,500 employees come from Peoria County. He says Rivian is getting past all the negative news about its startup and is getting its footing.
Meanwhile, how does this help Ameren? Its officials claim the utility will save money. While the vehicles generally run $75,000 to $80,000 a piece, one official says don’t expect your power bill to go up because of the purchase.
“We’ve done the math on this. The overall life cycle costs — the maintenance cost and the fuel costs — are less than a conventional vehicle,” said Dan Remmert, Senior Fleet Manager, Ameren Illinois.
Remmert says Ameren spends more than $20 million in fuel costs every year, and while electricity isn’t free, use of that — and the belief maintenance costs will be lower — will make this good for them.
Remmert says the trucks will be used by supervisors in the field for now, as it continues to review its initiative, and sees how the vehicles are used best.
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