![Dope or nope? A custom truck builder is modding up Rivians with lift kits, Kevlar paint, and roll cages [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Custom-Rivian-hero.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Dope or nope? A custom truck builder is modding up Rivians with lift kits, Kevlar paint, and roll cages [Video]
If you’ve been inside a Rivian R1T or R1S, you could argue they’re pretty well equipped to handle off-road terrain and are already reasonably customizable with add-ons. However, a custom truck specialist in Florida has reimagined the Rivian pickup for “Apocalyptic” level performance with an entirely customized exterior complete with LED lights, a roll cage, and even Kevlar paint.
Since its inception, the Rivian brand and the ethos of its entire company have been centered around the outdoors. Not only providing zero emissions to help Mother Nature return to her former self but promoting a lifestyle of adventure and exploration in national parks, campgrounds, and off-the-beaten path.
We at Electrek have driven multiple variants of the Rivian R1T pickup and R1S SUV and have no qualms with its off-road capabilities. Whether it’s quad- or dual-motor, Rivian’s active air suspension shines, and its ability to add custom racks and camping tents has been a massive plus for consumers.
However, a custom truck builder called Apocalypse Manufacturing has modded these electric trucks up to a level fit for a “Florida Man.” Apocalypse specializes in tough, rugged custom truck builds, modding up vehicles like Jeeps and Rams with 6×6 capabilities and donning them with intimidating names like “Hellfire” and “Juggernaut.”
As the automotive world inches closer and closer to going all-electric, Apocalypse Manufacturing has adapted as such, pushing its 6.2L HEMI V8 engines over to make some room for custom EVs like the Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV in its lineup.
A custom build of the Rivian R1T, called the “Nirvana” by Apocalypse, caught our eye at a local Florida dealer, which led us to this company that could be building some of the coolest or most atrocious off-road EVs you’ve ever seen. It just depends on your taste.
Would you buy one of these custom Rivian R1Ts?
According to the Apocalypse website, its custom Nirvana Rivian R1T features quad-motors, 839 horsepower, and 350 miles of range, which is interesting because the advertised range of a stock R1T with the large battery pack is 328 miles.
While the performance specs remain relatively the same, the overall look of the Apocalypse Nirvana compared to the R1T it was birthed from is quite staggering. The company equips each EV with a custom body, including a revamped front bumper, hood, lined front and rear fenders, a roll cage, a new LED bar, and a reinforced pickup bed with skid plates.
For extreme off-roading, Apocalypse added a lift kit to the custom Rivian, which is complimented by dynamic computer-controlled suspension and 38” x 15.5” off-road tires mounted on 20” x 12” SFJ wheels. As a result, the pickup sits 81″ high – plenty of clearance from mud and water, as you’ll see in the video below.
Since these are custom builds, the price of the Apocalypse Nirvana custom Rivian varies, but someone is currently selling a used one in Fort Lauderdale with less than 1,500 miles on it for $130,000. Check out the Nirvana in action in Apocalypse Manufacturing’s video, and let us know what you think.
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On today’s sunny side up episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at the latest from the world of solar power, and discuss Congressional Republicans’ plans to limit your energy independence by eliminating a critical tax credit for homeowners nearly ten years early. (!)
We’ve also got a quick review of a massive solar farm powering 200,000 homes in Indiana and the biggest solar project East of the Mississippi – both part of a record 98% of all new power generation and grid capacity introduced in 2025 coming from wind and solar. Those are jobs, those are lower utility rates, those are energy independence … so why are Congressional Republicans working to make that more expensive?
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If you want to read that EnergySage report on the state of the home solar industry, including news about battery energy storage system and V2H/V2G prices and financing trends, you can check it out for yourself, below, then let us know what you think in the comments.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Alphabet’s Waymo unit has received approval to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose.
In March, the company submitted a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to gain approval for its latest passenger safety plan, a key step in gaining permission to operate driverless vehicles across a broader area. On Monday, the proposed expansion was approved, allowing for Waymo’s driverless coverage to extend from San Francisco down through the Peninsula.
“We’re very excited to share that the CPUC has approved our application to operate our fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and nearly all of San Jose!” the company wrote in a post on X on Monday. “While this won’t change our operations in the near-term, we’re looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future.”
The $5 billion Empire Wind is back in business. The Trump administration’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has lifted its stop-work order for Empire Wind, a major offshore wind project off the coast of New York led by Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Equinor. Construction is now allowed to resume.
Equinor CEO Anders Opedal welcomed the news, saying the restart reinforces Equinor’s commitment to delivering clean energy while supporting local economies and saving thousands of jobs. He also credited a wide coalition of officials for helping get the project back on track, including Trump, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and congressional leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Dan Goldman. Opedal also thanked the Norwegian prime minister and the minister of finance for raising the issue with the US administration.
Governor Hochul said in a statement that “countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials” had taken place.
Neither the BOEM nor the Department of the Interior has issued a comment.
The Trump administration halted construction of the 54-turbine Empire Wind on April 16, but discussions between Equinor, regulators, and leaders at the federal, state, and city levels led to a reversal. That means Empire Wind can now push ahead with its goal of powering 500,000 New York homes with offshore wind energy.
“This project delivers on the energy ambitions shared by the US and New York by providing a vital new source of power to the region,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Wind US. She added that Empire Wind is boosting supply chain investments across the country, with activity in New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and South Carolina.
Equinor plans to reassess the project’s financials in the second quarter. The goal is still to install turbines offshore in 2025 and hit full commercial operation by 2027. The company says it will work with suppliers and regulators to minimize any delays from the month-long pause.
Empire Wind was first awarded its offshore lease in 2017 after a competitive federal process. It received its final construction green light in early 2024 following an extensive environmental review. Construction kicked off shortly after, and the project is now over 30% complete.
The US is a major market for Equinor. The Norwegian energy giant says it has invested around $60 billion in US energy projects since the early 2000s, more recently in low-carbon solutions, critical minerals, and renewables. Empire Wind is one of its flagship projects in the US.
Read more: Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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