Rivian Automobiles has just launched a pair of all-electric outdoor adventure vehicles following years of subjecting them to the harshest testing and explorers’ feedback.
On September 14th, their first models were driven off the assembly line in their Illinois production plant.
The R1T and the R1S are super-loaded with features specialized for road-tripping to off-road adventure, and they have a range 80 miles greater than Ford’s electric pickup.
“A trail to the middle of nowhere. A great mountain road. A long weekend with the family. We are focused on building products that inspire and enable you to see the world, on-road and way off,” the website reads, and that’s no understatement.
The robustness and capability of these vehicles is dramatic, as were the rigors Rivian put their SUV and pickup through on the way to the dealership.
The battery system was built and tested in environments as varied as 130ºF to -25ºF to ensure the car starts no matter where you left it. The four-wheel drive system will do 0-60 in 3 seconds, can crawl up rocks at inclines as steep as you care to attempt, and the models can wade through three feet of water.
To get some early durability testing, two pickups were sent on a 13,000-mile trip from the tip of Argentina up to Los Angeles, which spanned 100 days and every type of terrain and weather imaginable.
With a price tag starting at $67,500 the vehicles are not exactly cheap, but for the most capable nature-lover who is interested in enjoying the great outdoors as much as they are in saving it, there’s just no other choice out there.
After months of building pre-production vehicles, this morning our first customer vehicle drove off our production line in Normal! Our team's collective efforts have made this moment possible. Can't wait to get these into the hands of our customers! pic.twitter.com/8ZidwTaXRI
— RJ Scaringe (@RJScaringe) September 14, 2021
A world of experiences
Automatic driving, LTE-WiFI, a booming stereo system with full tablet connectibility and 120V power outlets turns any trip a little more like an RV-one rather than an on-the-rough camping expedition.
The lack of engine block gives the R1T an extraordinary amount of storage space—68 cubic feet in total, which also allows the them to fit a full-size spare tire as standard, and the innovative “Gear Tunnel.”
Located between the cab and the backseat, the gear tunnel is a third standard storage option idea for skis, wetsuits, muddy or dirty cloths and equipment, or anything else that doesn’t have a home, as well as being the compartment for some unique add-ons.
RELATED: One of the Biggest Myths About EVs is Busted in New Study
Rivian will sell you an electric slide-out camp kitchen—complete with crockery that folds in and out of the Gear Tunnel. On top of the all-glass panoramic star-gazing roof is an equipment rack fitted with attachments suitable for most third-party products.
It’s an awful lot to fit into a car, but this month the company announced it had received more than 24,000 preorders for the R1T, which they say will be available with an extended range of 400 miles on a charge by next year.
(WATCH the test drives below.)
REV UP the Positivity—Share This Article…
EV’s are still impractical for a long distance road trip.
Mapping software says its 2030 miles to LA for me about a 27.5 hour trip, my car gets about 500 highway miles to a tank, so I would have to stop 4 times for about 5 minutes each, so say 28 hours total
The R1S can go 316 to a charge, which their website says 140 miles of range in 20 minutes, so a full charge in 50 (?) minutes. So you’d have to stop 6.5 times for 50 minutes each which is almost another 5.5 hours. For a trip time of 33 hours. That is assuming that there are charging stations all the way from Chicago to LA and that they’re not being used when you get there. The only time I wait at a gas station is at Costco for 10 minutes at most.
They are not made for long distances, though! Wait a decade, and they likely will be ready… They are fabulous for so many other reasons.
Question: Can they pull a camper or a trailer full of construction materials? If so, how far before recharging? I would prefer a hybrid truck that can recharge itself and pull heavier weights.