Rivian debuted two new battery options: the Standard and Standard+ pack. They are available for both the all-electric pickup truck and SUV. These energy storage units can only be paired with the in-house developed Enduro drive units. Here's the gist of it.
One of America's most promising auto startups is putting even more pressure on competitors. The useful and work-ready R1T is now cheaper than ever, as is the three-row eSUV. Pairing the dual-motor powertrain with the new battery options is what might sway more Americans in the right direction. The slight difference of 37 miles in range between the Large Pack and the new Standard Pack+ is enticing.
Here's what the costs look like for prospective buyers:
$72,400 for a dual-motor Rivian R1T with the Standard 270-mile battery;
$75,500 for a dual-motor Rivian R1T with the Standard+ 315-mile battery;
$74,900 for a dual-motor Rivian R1S with the Standard 270-mile battery;
$78,000 for a dual-motor Rivian R1S with the Standard+ 315-mile battery.
A dual-motor Rivian R1T equipped with the Standard+ energy storage unit is $6,000 cheaper than an equivalent model with the Large-pack battery. Potential customers have to accept a range loss of just 37 miles, which really isn't much. This new combination seems like the obvious choice for those drivers who don't want the original quad-motor experience and the full set of perks.
All models featuring the Standard and Standard+ batteries qualify for half of the updated EV tax credit when customers choose to purchase outright or finance. But lease one of these new Rivian R1T or R1S specs, and the EV maker applies the full federal incentive without an application.
The company also confirmed that the lessees who choose to buy their EVs at the end of the lease will encounter no extra charges for excess mileage or wear and tear. That's great news because it transforms the R1T and R1S into even cheaper all-electric rides thanks to the $7,500 discount.
Sadly, leasing deals are only available to Americans living in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.
Photo: Rivian Automotive LLC
Someone with a credit score of 800+ and living in Arizona can pay $6,569 at signing, choose the minimum annual mileage of 10,000 miles and the maximum lease period of 36 months to secure a dual-motor plus standard-pack R1S with LA Silver paint and 21-inch wheels for $674 per month.
Deliveries of these new R1T and R1S configurations begin in March.
Previously, it was suggested that the standard pack would have a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and a size of 105 kWh. That isn't the case now. Rivian confirmed that the current Standard Pack and Standard Pack+ have lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxides (NCA) cathodes. The size is left to customers and passionate testers to uncover.
The NCA chemistry means the high-voltage energy storage units can be charged to 100% to get the maximum possible range, as you would do with an LFP pack. But to avoid accelerated degradation, it's best to keep the daily charge level at around 65-70%. When leaving the car in the garage for longer, the charge level should be between 35 and 50%. That charging strategy can help you preserve the battery's health for longer.
Fret not; if you really want the LFP energy storage unit, Rivian says it will transform the standard pack's cathode later this year. The brand is preparing to temporarily shut down the Normal, Illinois factory this summer to upgrade the tooling. That could be the perfect occasion for the NCA to LFP chemistry change. Some camouflaged R1T and R1S units have already been spotted testing in Alaska, which indicates that some changes are underway.
All that seems to suggest that the Standard Pack is a Large Pack with fewer cells, while the Standard+ Pack is similar to the Standard Pack but boasts the Max Pack chemistry, which, in reality is a slightly different Samsung battery cell (50G vs. 53G).
Finally, remember that you can still order the impressive all-electric quad-motor pickup truck and three-row SUV with Bosch drive units, but you can only pair them with the large 135-kWh high-voltage energy storage unit. The max-pack battery is reserved for the dual-motor-equipped Rivian EVs. They might seem expensive now, but keep in mind that picking a quad-motor Rivian is a comprehensive upgrade. You get more battery capacity (hopefully), more drive modes, and an improved warranty.
Just to clarify, Standard packs announced today are using NCA chemistry, and LFP will be introduced to Standard packs at a later date!
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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