Coming to you from the Cybertruck Studios for the first official Zero Emissions Run of 2025. We headed south to Long Beach and eventually San Clemente to link up with a massive group of EV enthusiasts.
The air was a bit heavy due to the recent fires in the Palisades, but heading south gave us a chance to breathe and enjoy the incredible community that’s growing around these high-tech machines. From the latest Gen 2 Rivians to custom camping-ready Cybertrucks, there was plenty of technical hardware to drool over.
The Journey: Charging on the Go
We started the day with 65% state of charge. I brought along my electric scooter, and since I forgot to charge it at home, I took advantage of the Cybertruck’s built-in outlets in the bed. Charging your secondary EV while driving your primary EV is one of those “future is now” moments I love.
We arrived in Long Beach with 46% SoC and stopped at a familiar supercharger—the one famously nestled next to actual oil pumping machines. It’s a great visual reminder of where we’re headed. I topped off to 70% just to be safe, taking advantage of my three months of free supercharging.
Spotlight: Rivian R1S Gen 2 Tri-Motor
One of the biggest highlights of the day was meeting Peter and Serena and their brand-new Gen 2 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor. They actually traded in a Model Y Performance for this beast, and let me tell you, the technical upgrades are impressive.
- Storm Blue Exterior: This color is exclusive to the Tri-Motor and higher trims, and it looks stunning in the coastal light.
- Ascend Slate Sky Interior: This is arguably one of the best interiors in the EV market right now. It features beautiful Walnut wood trim and a unique “checkered plaid” pattern on the seats and headrests.
- Refined Utility: As a Rivian R1T owner, I’m always biased toward the brand’s fit and finish. Seeing the Gen 2 R1S side-by-side with the Cybertruck really highlights the different design philosophies: rugged, premium utility vs. futuristic, angular minimalism.
Technical Build: The Overlanding Cybertruck
I also caught up with Jose, who has one of the most functional Cybertruck builds I’ve seen yet. He’s geared his truck specifically for camping and overlanding:
- Rooftop Tent: He’s running a carbon-fiber rooftop tent from Inspired Overland.
- Roof Rack: The structure is a Mars Adventure Gear rack. What’s cool about this design is that it doesn’t extend all the way to the rear, allowing him to still carry tall items in the bed.
- Custom Bed Divider: He’s using a third-party divider that doubles as a table—a huge win for campsite efficiency. Check out the divider I’m using.
- T-Max PPF: His truck is wrapped in a “Dark Ocean Metallic Blue” gloss PPF that looks incredible against the stainless steel accents.
Scenic Trails: Rancho San Clemente
After checking out the cars, we hit the Rancho San Clemente Ridgeline Trail. If you’re in the area, the views are unbeatable. It was a bit of a workout (I was definitely out of breath!), but seeing the line of EVs parked along the coast from that height was a sight to see.
Check out the Tesla Riverside Toy Drive I attended last month.
