Rivian R1T electric truck: Generous to silly power, 230-mile range, $70k, late 2020

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2018/11/rivian-reveals-all-electric-pickup-with-some-serious-specs/

I'm amazed at the range they're getting with all that underbed and frunk cargo space. It looks like the batteries are only under the cabin. The individual wheel motors will give it traction like no ICE-powered vehicle has ever had too.

The lowest trim version is $70k, which they're not making initially. As incredibly cool as it is, I'm curious as to the market. 

"Lockable gear tunnel behind the cab" That's a built-in gun safe if I ever saw one

... waiting for their dream to be crushed by dealership requirements...

Have they addressed that at all?

That price isn't far off of 3/4 or 1 ton trucks with one or two added options. Hell an Escalade can break six figures. Seven stacks of high society is more than what I want to spend on a pickup but if you have a small business it's a fun vehicle to slap a company logo onto it and not pay taxes on $70k.

Not sure what kind of maintenance it’ll need but you can subtract gas purchases and oil changes over its lifetime.

(Then factor in the cost to charge)

In reply to RossD :

Exactly, I saw a Tacoma recently stickered at $67k 

Looks fairly similar to a Honda Ridgeline.  Not sure may buyers shopping the Ridgeline would cross shop that thing.  It is cool though.

GameboyRMH said:

 

I'm amazed at the range they're getting with all that underbed and frunk cargo space. 

I believe you mean "headgate", as Jason Torchinsky coined the term back in 2013.

https://jalopnik.com/the-double-bed-truck-will-revolutionize-pickups-1486554173

When it goes into production I'll be excited.

I'm currently eyeing a Workhorse W-15 which is $50k with an 80 mile range and an ICE range extender. It's already in production so it's less promises and more results.

The article says the range is claimed...if it isn't supposed to go into production until late 2020, that infers to me they're still working on the truck and its batteries, and the range has not necessarily been confirmed.  It all sounds good but I'll wait until there's some proof.

There are some features there that could be pretty neat to integrate into a conventional pickup as well. Wonder how long that "gun storage" area will take to get integrated into an F150 or something....

This is super exciting and I really hope it is released and does well. It has the ability and wheelbase to tow some real trailers, which is cool. A few sticking points though...

1. Range when towing - what will it do if you throw 8,500 lbs on the hitch? If the mileage gets cut down to ~150 and then you have to sit for an hour while it charges back up, it kills the vehicle IMO.
2. The G-D touchscreen for everything. Just as in the Teslas, it's entirely unsafe and cannot be used with gloves. This will be a dealbreaker for many given it's a truck and more likely to be used while wearing gloves compared to your typical sedan/crossover.

irish44j said:

There are some features there that could be pretty neat to integrate into a conventional pickup as well. Wonder how long that "gun storage" area will take to get integrated into an F150 or something....

The area where the underbed storage areas are usually contain a fuel tank and spare on a ICE-powered pickup. On that topic I'd have to assume the spare on this sits in one of these cargo holds.

GameboyRMH said:

irish44j said:

There are some features there that could be pretty neat to integrate into a conventional pickup as well. Wonder how long that "gun storage" area will take to get integrated into an F150 or something....

The area where the underbed storage areas are usually contain a fuel tank and spare on a ICE-powered pickup. On that topic I'd have to assume the spare on this sits in one of these cargo holds.

yeah I didn't mean the exact same spot necessarily, just the "idea"...

ebonyandivory said:

Not sure what kind of maintenance it’ll need but you can subtract gas purchases and oil changes over its lifetime.

(Then factor in the cost to charge)

Tesla is somewhat notorious for calculating estimated lifetime gas purchase & maintenance costs and deducting those from the price when they advertise the cost of a vehicle.  I wonder if these guys are doing the same thing?  I wouldn't be surprised to see $150K for the one with the biggest battery.

Also, the specs are not clear on if the tow rating of "5000" is in lbs or kgs.  (it says both, in different locations).  It's also not clear how much of the 400 mile range you lose with an enclosed trailer on the back.

I don't want the truck, I DO want a stock.

My gas powered truck went from 12mpg to 8mpg towing an open trailer loaded with a race car and gear; I would guess a comparable range loss for an electric vehicle. So - again wild guess - if they quote 400 mile range, a guess would be 250 mile range towing. An enclosed trailer would eat that down even further.

In reply to dculberson :

And then subtract more range if it's cold outside, and even more if you're using HVAC. 

Then you don't buy one of these if cross country towing is your thing. You get one if you're a local contractor running around town or you only have to drag your skid steer from job to job. 

It's a tool, and like all tools it's better at some things than others. You don't complain that a ball peen hammer makes a poor choice for pulling nails, or that a 12 oz claw hammer just doesn't drive T posts far enough into clay. This truck will likely be better at some things than an ICE, and it will definitely be worse at others. Nothing wrong with that, my 2500 sucks at autox and my Miata struggles with the two car trailer. But somehow they're both still valid choices...

In reply to Keith Tanner :

My $50 hf drill press doesn't seem to be able to pull nails. It's not really great at drilling either.

NickD said:

GameboyRMH said:

 

I'm amazed at the range they're getting with all that underbed and frunk cargo space. 

I believe you mean "headgate", as Jason Torchinsky coined the term back in 2013.

https://jalopnik.com/the-double-bed-truck-will-revolutionize-pickups-1486554173

“Headgate” sounds like something way more newsworthy than this pic would indicate. 

Pete Gossett said:

NickD said:

GameboyRMH said:

 

I'm amazed at the range they're getting with all that underbed and frunk cargo space. 

I believe you mean "headgate", as Jason Torchinsky coined the term back in 2013.

https://jalopnik.com/the-double-bed-truck-will-revolutionize-pickups-1486554173

“Headgate” sounds like something way more newsworthy than this pic would indicate. 

Wasn’t that the code name for the Clinton-Lewinski investigation?

Keith Tanner said:

It's a tool, and like all tools it's better at some things than others. You don't complain that a ball peen hammer makes a poor choice for pulling nails, or that a 12 oz claw hammer just doesn't drive T posts far enough into clay. This truck will likely be better at some things than an ICE, and it will definitely be worse at others. Nothing wrong with that, my 2500 sucks at autox and my Miata struggles with the two car trailer. But somehow they're both still valid choices...

Can we make this one a sticky somewhere? It's a good answer to so many situations. 

mazdeuce - Seth said:

The lowest trim version is $70k, which they're not making initially. As incredibly cool as it is, I'm curious as to the market. 

Same market that bought early Teslas. Tech cars are the new e-penis.