The Ultimate Guide to Rivian Electric Vehicles

With the fusion of autonomy and electricity, Rivian is preparing to help flip a century-old auto industry on its head. Having to settle for less adventure because of the negative impact your ride has on the environment is no longer an issue.

Rivian has the solution.

By electrifying trucks and SUVs, Rivian is offering a better choice for those who want to go off the beaten path, who have lots of gear to haul, and who require a vehicle capable of skillfully handling any terrain. Adding a roomy interior to fit your family or surfer buddies makes Rivian the perfect choice for your active lifestyle.

Who is Rivian?

Founded in 2009, Rivian is the brainchild of Robert “RJ” Scaringe. Having earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from MIT, Scaringe realized that ever-expanding technology and a growing marketplace opened an opportunity to help shape the way people live, work, and play for the better. 

Scaringe created Rivian, a company that develops semi-autonomous and electric vehicles, products, and services. 

Its mission? “To keep the world adventurous forever.”  

In 2011 Rivian began designing autonomous electric vehicles, gearing its prototypes toward the driverless car and ride-sharing markets. 

In January 2017, Rivian acquired its current manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. 

This 2.6-million-square-foot facility is an addition to its headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, facilities in Irvine, Palo Alto, and San Jose, California, and offices in Carson, CA, the United Kingdom, and Vancouver, BC employing over 2000 workers.  

In November 2018, Rivian unveiled its first two products: the R1T, an electric five-passenger pickup truck, and the R1S, an electric seven-passenger SUV. 

Both are scheduled start production by late 2020.

In September 2019, Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, planning to have a 100% renewable energy delivery fleet by 2030. With Rivian set to produce, Amazon expects to have 10,000 electric vans in operation by 2022.  

The R1T Truck

The Rivian R1T truck looks different because it is different. 

With welcoming lines, distinct expression, and bold proportions, the Rivian R1T is as memorable as the places you’ll go and offers an electrifying 0-60mph in 3 seconds performance with zero emissions.

With total power up to 750 hp revving to let loose in the Rivian, you get the power your adventure requires, and with a range of up to 400+ miles, you won’t be inconvenienced with many stops along the way.  

There is no need to travel light when you drive the Rivian because you have up to 11,000 pounds of towing capacity. With greater lockable storage than any vehicle in its class (12.4 cu ft gear tunnel), you can pack all the gear you need for whatever adventure you embark upon. 

The Rivian flexible crossbar system expands and collapses easily to mount your gear on the roof, the bed, and the bed floor.

Rivian’s performance on the road and off is effortless and handling is superb with a chassis engineered to adjust smoothly as you switch terrains. Boasting quad-motors, the Rivian R1T sends instant power independently to each wheel, maximizing traction even in the most demanding conditions.  

The R1T truck has a low center of gravity and, due to its energy-dense battery pack that distributes weight evenly, the Rivian is anchored to the ground even around corners.  

If your adventure leads you into off-road mode, the Rivian offers a 14.5-inch max ground clearance, 34.8/30.5-degree approach/departure angle, 25.7-degree breakover angle, and an impressive 42.7-inch water fording capability.

Specs include a 105/135/180 kWh battery, 829 ft-lb combined motor torque, 135.8-inch wheelbase, 67.3-inch front/rear track, 11.1 cu ft front trunk volume. Rear bin with full-size tire storage, three 110 V charging outlets, stadium headlights, nature-inspired interior designed for rugged use, digital navigation dashboard, and daytime running lights that double as a charge-level indicator.  

The R1S SUV

The Rivian R1S SUV, a roomy seven-seater, bears a striking resemblance to the R1T Truck also boasts an electrifying 0-60mph in 3 seconds performance with zero emissions.  

The R1S also has a range of up to 400+ miles with 750 hp in the engine.  

There is no need to travel light when you drive the R1S because you have up to 7,700 pounds of towing capacity. With more than 11cu ft of lockable storage space you can pack all the gear you need. 

The third row of seating can fold flat to maximize your storage. (Not available with the 180-kWh battery). The flexible crossbar system helps to mount your gear on the roof easily.

The R1S shares the same chassis as the R1T, making performance on the road and off effortless and smooth as you switch terrains. Boasting quad-motors, the Rivian maximizes traction even in the most demanding conditions.  

The R1S has a low center of gravity thanks to the evenly distributed weight of the energy-dense battery.   

When you choose off-road mode, the R1S SUV offers a 14.5-inch max ground clearance, 34.8/34.3-degree approach/departure angle, 28.9-degree breakover angle, and an impressive 42.7-inch water fording capability.

Specs include:

• 105/135/180 kWh battery
• 829 ft-lb combined motor torque
• 121.1-inch wheelbase, 67.3-inch front/rear track
• 11.1 cu ft front trunk volume
• 7.1 cu ft rear bin storage
• stadium headlights
• nature-inspired interior designed for rugged use
• digital navigation dashboard
• daytime running lights that double as a charge-level indicator.  

About the Rivian Technology

Rivian technology is designed for adventure in all terrains.  

All below the height of the wheels, the flexible skateboard chassis houses:

• Quad-motors- four independent motors with up to 200 hp of instant power and torque at each wheel enable maximized performance from low-speed rock crawling to high-speed cornering.
• Independent air suspension- an advanced system featuring the widest range of ground clearance of any production vehicle. Elevating up to 14 inches for off-roading or fording rivers, and lowering down to 8 inches on the highway, it is designed to maximize aerodynamics in every condition.  
• Hydraulic roll control system- damping control that adjusts the damping at each wheel in the fraction of a second will optimize traction both on the track and the trail.  
• Intelligent battery management system (BMS)- one of the world’s largest automotive battery packs (up to 180 kWh) protected by an underbody with proprietary shielding to go anywhere confidently. The BMS continuously learns how you drive, sending and receiving data in real time.  

Rivian sensor suite features lidar, radar, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors to provide multiple perception modalities to keep you safe.

Allowing you to take your hands off the road and view the world as you cruise through it, Level 3 autonomy will be available in every Rivian.

Not only can you monitor the safety, efficiency, and performance of your Rivian, but you can discover hidden pathways and attractions with the help of its cloud-based architecture with enhanced security through its Ethernet backbone.  

Driven with the desire to change your lifestyle for the better, Rivian delivers products, made in America, that make a difference.  

With production due to start in late 2020, the countdown is on.

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