The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is expanding its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by reportedly acquiring 450 Rivian electric vehicles (EVs) for statewide use. While the agency has not yet issued an official announcement, multiple sightings and online posts suggest that Rivian’s R1T pickup and R1S SUV are now joining Caltrans’ growing fleet of zero-emission vehicles.
Speculation began when a Rivian Forums member, posting under the handle Joules Burn, shared that he had seen a Rivian R1T branded with Caltrans’ signature fluorescent orange stripe at the Rivian West Sacramento Center. According to his account, staff at the facility mentioned that the department had recently purchased 450 Rivians for deployment across California.
This report appears credible as less than two weeks ago a Reddit user shared a photo of Rivian R1Ts on a car carrier, already sporting the Caltrans logo. Another user reported spotting a batch of white Rivian vehicles delivered to T Sportline in Los Angeles, where they were reportedly being prepared for state service.
While only photos of R1T trucks with the Caltrans logo have been spotted, the deal reportedly includes R1S SUVs as well.
We have reached out to Caltrans for confirmation, and will update this story when we get a response.
If confirmed, the purchase would mark another major investment in electrification by Caltrans, which oversees nearly 400,000 lane-miles of roadway across the state. In 2022, Drive Tesla broke the story of Caltrans ordering 399 Tesla Model 3 sedans, a purchase valued at over US$18 million.
At that time, Caltrans noted the Model 3 offered the best overall value to taxpayers due to its safety ratings, range, warranty coverage, and reduced operating costs.
Caltrans has publicly committed to slashing greenhouse gas emissions by converting its fleet to zero-emission vehicles. The agency’s website highlights efforts to integrate battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and renewable diesel vehicles into operations as part of California’s broader climate strategy.
Funding for these large-scale EV acquisitions comes from California’s state budget, which allocates hundreds of millions of dollars to replace aging gas-powered vehicles with zero-emission models and build out the supporting charging infrastructure.
