Californian Learns Brutal Lesson About EVs After Stranded Truck Is Hauled Away in Wyoming: Report

When it comes to cross-country travel, many electric vehicle owners have learned to take their vehicles’ range readings with a grain of salt — especially in cold weather.

That’s a lesson one man learned the hard way last week when he tried to drive his Rivian electric pickup truck through a rural part of Wyoming — with disappointing results.

Tow truck operator Jake Yeaman of Specialty Towing in Laramie shared the story on his Facebook page.

“Towed my first EV Today,” he said.

“A brand new $90,000 electric pickup from the rest area on South Pass to Rocksprings…
“He had charged in Riverton enough to go 120 miles, but ran out of kilovolts halfway over the mountain (about 60 miles) so you might want to make sure your tank is full of electrons before tackling any mountain passes.”

The comments on Yeaman’s post were less than sympathetic.

“Now that’s funny,” one wrote. “No thank you. I’ll just keep my old gas run car and pickup. Those idiots don’t have a clue how we live in Wy.”

One had a helpful suggestion: “He should’ve been pulling a trailer with a horse in it…he would’ve made it then!! good thing it’s you to the rescue Jake!!”

“Haha,” another wrote. “It is not even extreme cold and not overly windy … Just wait until they start trying to go that route at -20 and with the 60 mph winds…”


The Cowboy State Daily interviewed Patrick Lawson, an electric vehicle dealer from Riverton, who owns a Rivian.

Lawson confirmed that weather conditions like cold and wind — which are an everyday obstacle in Wyoming for much of the year — “can quickly drain the battery,” according to the report. Even the rate of speed can affect vehicle range, he said.

Because of those limitations, Rivians are not the best choice for a cross-country trip in rural areas, Lawson told the Cowboy State Daily.

When he drives the same route that Yeaman’s customer got stranded on, Lawson said he charges up to 200 miles of range to make the 120-mile journey.

Media outlets have reported on several recent instances in which EV owners have found themselves dealing with longer charging times, greatly reduced acceleration and even inability to run the heater in frigid temperatures.

Others have encountered logistical nightmares just trying to locate chargers when driving long distances.

One vehicle owner who spent three years on a waiting list to get the electric vehicle of his dreams — also a Rivian — found himself with a $2,100 tow bill when he tried to drive his new truck on a snow-covered road and ended up with an error message and a vehicle that refused to move.

“I hit about 2½ feet of snow and it just stopped right there,” Chase Merrill told Insider. “I had seen all the Rivian marketing campaigns with the cars just eating through the snow so it was kind of like, ‘Man, this is disappointing.’”

After that experience, he decided the Rivian was not the vehicle for him, but he said he is still a fan of the brand.

“The car is super impressive and I want the company to do well,” Merrill told Insider. “I think I’m just not the right person to be an early adopter.”

Related Posts

Vanna White

The pre-taped messaged aired during Thursday night’s show.“I can’t believe that tomorrow is our last show together,” White, 67, said in the clip. I don’t know how…

Obama …

Trump announced a sweeping set of tariffs on April 2, 2025, dubbing the day “Liberation Day.”The new policy imposes a universal 10% tariff on all imports, with…

This is what really happened to Jacqueline Bisset

acqueline Bisset is magnificent – in so many ways. In a career spanning 58 years and a portfolio that includes about 50 films, the 80-year-old actress shows…

Smallpox vaccine scars: What they look like and why

I have a clear memory of noticing a distinct scar on my mother’s arm when I was a child. It sits high up, close to her shoulder,…

Why this female worker wants to ditch her shirt

The differences and inequalities between men and women have been a central part of societal debate for hundreds of years — and the topic remains just as…

Pamela Anderson stuns fans after returning to her iconic ’90s look

Pamela Anderson is turning back the clock — and turning heads — with a bold return to the glammed-up look that made her a global icon in…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *