The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally released the ratings for the dual motor plus the large battery pack R1T and R1S. The encouraging figures might make those with a "Max Pack" on order even more confident about the upcoming improved range. Here's what you need to know.
Over two months ago, we told you about a document previewing the official release of EPA's ratings for the dual-motor R1S with the large 135-kWh battery pack. That paper said the R1S riding on 21-inch wheels could achieve a maximum range of 352 miles on a full charge.
However, now that the official numbers are out, things look even better for the pickup truck and SUV equipped with the in-house Enduro motors – both get the rumored 352-mile EPA-rated range!
The EPA's testing procedure revealed the following range figures for the dual-motor and large-pack R1-series vehicles:
2023 Rivian R1T on 21-inch wheels – 352 miles;
2023 Rivian R1T "Performance" on 21-inch wheels – 352 miles;
2023 Rivian R1T on 22-inch wheels – 341 miles;
2023 Rivian R1T "Performance" on 22-inch wheels – 341 miles;
2023 Rivian R1S on 21-inch wheels – 352 miles;
2023 Rivian R1S "Performance" on 21-inch wheels – 352 miles;
2023 Rivian R1S on 22-inch wheels – 341 miles;
2023 Rivian R1S "Performance" on 22-inch wheels – 341 miles.
The above numbers show that the unlockable horsepower doesn't impact the range. The dual-motor R1T and R1S put out 533 hp, but that figure can be upgraded to 665 hp in exchange for $5,000.
The figures also prove that giving up on the four Bosch units found on the quad-motor 835-hp R1T and R1S translates into a range gain of around 20 to 30 miles when 21-inch wheels are considered. However, all-electric vehicles with 22-inch wheels and Enduro motors can go 49 miles farther than their Bosch-equipped counterparts.
While the official numbers look very good for the R1S and R1T, remember that the EPA's testing procedure doesn't mean 352 miles on a full battery is guaranteed. Real-world range depends on several factors like weather, driving style, payload, and battery degradation.
Photo: Rivian
Moreover, the standardized EPA way of calculating EV range includes driving until the battery is completely depleted, a scenario that will hardly happen in real life. Emptying the energy storage unit is not recommended because it may bring imbalance to the chemical process occurring in the pack, which may result in compromised cells and, thus, lower maximum range.
On the other hand, if you're the type of driver that likes to drive economically, the maximum possible range could improve.
The next Rivian vehicles in line for EPA range testing are the dual-motor plus the 180-kWh max-pack battery R1T and R1S. They should be capable of delivering over 400 miles of range on a full charge in this configuration, considering the quad-motor pickup truck and SUV were projected with 400 mi and 390 mi of range, respectively.
The Irvine-based EV maker will also introduce a smaller 105-kWh battery package dubbed the "Standard Pack," for which deliveries are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2024.
Rivian is also in the process of developing its own 800V architecture for the upcoming and more affordable R2-series vehicles. That would enable next-gen vehicles manufactured in Normal and the upcoming Georgia plant to take advantage of 350-kW DC fast chargers. Sadly, the company confirmed there are no plans to update the existing R1-series units from 400V to 800V.
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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