Rivian’s Electric Adventure Vehicles Are Here, and They’re Awesome

It seems like ages ago that electric vehicles were just some crazy idea only relevant in the far future. They were novelties, toys for the super rich or environmentalists with very small commutes, yet here we are with companies like Tesla bringing them into the mainstream. The once quirky and difficult to use cars are now sleek, sexy, and easy to drive on a daily basis, yet for many of us they still have one major problem: they’re not really designed for adventures. If you want to carry a dirt bike, tackle some forest roads to reach a trail, or cruise through some soft-sand to go beach camping there just isn’t a legitimate electric option out there. Or, at least there wasn’t, until Rivian unveiled their R1 platforms, and quite frankly blew our minds.

Now I know that many of you are going to only half read this article while searching for the range and capability of these trucks in order to see if they’re really “adventure vehicles,” so let’s just start with the specifications.

R1T

• 400-mile range
• Curb weight, 5,886 pounds
• 750 horsepower
• 826 pound-feet of torque
• 0-60 in 3.2 seconds
• Wading depth of 1 meter
• Quad-motor AWD with independent motor controls
• Double wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear
• Dynamic roll control, adaptive dampers, and ride-height adjustable air-suspension
• 1,763-pound payload
• 11,000-pound tow capacity

R1S

• 410-mile range
• Curb weight, 5,842 pounds
• 826 horsepower
• 826 pound-feet of torque
• 0-60 in 3.2 seconds
• Wading depth of 1 meter
• Quad-motor AWD with independent motor controls
• Double wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear
• Dynamic roll control, adaptive dampers, and ride-height adjustable air-suspension
• 1,807-pound payload
• 7,716-pound tow capacity

The truck variant, dubbed the R1T, was the first to be revealed. It is fully electric and can carry five passengers for up to a 400-mile-total range, while the R1S (SUV) will carry seven passengers and has a maximum range of 410 miles! That’s some serious distance for trips, and puts actual off-road travel on the radar for many parts of the country with existing charging stations. But it’s not just about range, these trucks have some real technology behind them for tackling tough terrain as well.

Take the “AWD” system for example. It uses four independent electric motors to power the wheels, which means that in low traction scenarios it can turn each wheel independently with the precise amount of torque needed to move the truck. Think of it like a better version of lockers, where instead of forcing the wheels to turn at one rate you can take it one step further by putting the power only where it needs to go.

Not that you need to be stingy with it, as the motors produce 750 horsepower and 826 pound feet of torque. That will help either Rivian rip your face off in a 3.2 second 0-60, or 0-100 in less than 7 seconds. For reference, that 0-60 is just shy of the Ferrari 488’s time of 3 seconds flat.

While we don’t know the full details of the suspension, we can tell you it’s a double wishbone setup in the front with a multi-link in the rear. It will also feature adjustable air-ride for control of height and comfort needs on and off road, along with dynamic roll control and adaptive dampers for changing terrains. Total ground clearance on the “off-road” R1T is an impressive 14.7,” with approach, breakover, and departure coming in at 34, 26, and 30 degrees respectively. The SUV will boast just 5 millimeters more ground clearance, but with a 121-inch wheel base instead of the truck’s 135 inches, it improves the breakover by 3 degrees to a total of 29 degrees.

The R1T has more lockable storage than any other truck currently produced, so you won’t have any trouble filling the vehicle’s nearly 1,800-pound payload capacity. You’ll get more than 350 liters of space in the lockable gear tunnel near the front of the bed, which is perfect for snowboards, camp chairs, Maxtrax, fishing rods, and other long skinny equipment. An additional 330 liters of storage is located in the trunk under the hood, a big advantage over petrol-powered competition. The bed also includes a watertight integrated tonneau cover and an under-bed 200-liter storage space which can be used to accomodate a full-size spare. The SUV variant will pack an equally large front trunk, plus the vehicle’s entire interior and a rear trunk of 180 liters.

Other fun features include three 110v outlets and an integrated air compressor plus locking cables to secure bike frames or other equipment to the truck bed. There is also a built-in security camera that can record anyone attempting to tamper with your gear—a nice touch for a vehicle that is going to clearly draw attention.

One of the other really nice additions is the Rivian rack system, which utilizes telescoping racks with easy-to-use mounts that quickly attach to the roof of either the R1T or R1S, as well as the bed rails and bed floor of the R1T. They’re designed to accomodate roof tents, existing luggage boxes, and all sorts of bike and ski racks, so you won’t have to leave any of your current adventure gear behind.

From here, things start to get really crazy, and maybe just a bit sci-fi. Both the R1T and R1S will include self-driving technology, and we’re not talking lane change alerts here. By using multiple modalities including camera, lidar, radar, ultrasonic, and high precision GPS coupled with high definition maps, both these vehicles provide a “hands-off wheel and eye-off road” level of autonomy on the highway. It can literally drive itself. Not that you’d want it to of course, because based on the videos posted near the end of this article, it looks like way too much fun to drive yourself.

Both trucks will be made right here in the United States, and pricing is set to start at just $61,500 for the R1T and $65,000 for the R1S after federal tax credits. That won’t buy you the 3.2 second 180 kWh battery, but with an entry price that is actually in the realm of affordability we won’t complain. Deliveries begin in late 2020, and Rivian states that the fully-equipped vehicles with highest performance battery packs will be produced first.

Although we haven’t seen one of these trucks in person, we couldn’t be more excited for their introduction. A 400-mile range and 14 inches of ground clearance is a massive step toward electric vehicles being capable of true backcountry travel. In fact, if enough charging stations or auxiliary fuel cells (think electric jerry cans) are developed, the Rivian would be more than just a step, but the first real option for off-road enthusiasts, and that is one heck of a breakthrough.

To learn more about the Rivian, check out the full spec sheet below, or visit their site at the provided link, but first, watch their “clean escape long version” video here.  It’s sure to get you pumped about this truck.

Rivian “Clean escape long version” video

Rivian Website