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Rivian Now Sells Electric Vehicles With Software-Locked Batteries

Posted on by darion

Rivian is trying to make more money, and that means getting rid of as many Gen 2 vehicles as possible in the shortest amount of time possible. Given the economy is starting to show its weaknesses, the fact that the startup isn’t waiting is good. But it could confuse customers in the process. Here’s everything you need to know about the Large+ battery option.

Rivian is widely considered the best alternative to Tesla. Together with Lucid, the companies are creating some of the most interesting battery-powered vehicles. It also helps that Rivian’s CEO is a very intelligent but down-to-earth guy.

The company has a future, even though Tesla is currently king of the zero-emissions car jungle. It just needs to tread carefully and make sure the R2, R3, and R3X are brought to market as quickly as possible with few to none of the problems of the classic first-generation vehicles.

But until the smaller, more affordable Rivian EVs arrive, the three-row R1S and R1T pickup are solid options for those who want a serious ride all to themselves. Buying them may be the problem.

We previously discussed Rivian’s new battery strategy and concluded that any potential buyer would be better off with either the Standard Pack or the Max Pack. The middle option (aka the Large Pack) simply doesn’t make much sense, especially now that the automaker has improved the charging speed of the Standard Pack’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

Rivian R1S Highway Gen 2 Range Test

Photo: Out of Spec Reviews on YouTube

And the best part? Rivian didn’t even make the Big Packs. Until now, of course. It still doesn’t make them, but it does sell them. “What?” you might be thinking. Well, let’s get down to it
situation before it becomes even more confusing.

Establishing the facts

As you type, you can go to the Rivian website, set up your R1T or R1S, pay a non-refundable deposit, and wait for your shipment. Electric vehicle to choose from to build and ship. It couldn’t be simpler. The brand is even taking orders for the 850-hp Tri-Motor plus Max Pack configuration.

But let’s say you have your eye on a refreshed R1S. If you don’t want to wait a few weeks for the new Whip to arrive, you can pick up a pre-built unit that matches your desired configuration and pick it up faster than it would take you to wait for a custom order.

For reasons only Rivian can know, the company has decided to only produce the twin-motor R1S EV with either the Standard or Max packages. The Large package or the triple-motor drivetrain are not available in the R1 Shop, its online warehouse.

R1 Store

Photo: Rivian

To the surprise of many potential buyers, the Large Pack is what the EPA says should offer a maximum range of 330 miles (531 km). We’re a bit surprised by this, since the Large Pack only has 16.9 kWh more than the 270-mile (435-kilometer) standard package.

What’s more, the latter option boasts lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is less energy-dense but safer and can be charged to 100 percent more often without the risk of accelerated degradation. It’s the perfect energy storage unit if you want to use your EV for commuting or short trips. The manufacturer even recommends charging to 100 percent once a week. This allows the battery management system to perform all the proper calibrations.

Meanwhile, the 109.4-kWh Large Pack has a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathode, which means you don’t always need to charge it to 100 percent. If you do, you’ll need to drive it right away to preserve the high-voltage battery’s capacity over time.

So the extra 60 miles (97 km) of range isn’t as important to prospective R1S owners who are buying this EV to serve as a family car and want to take good care of its “electron tank.” Charging to 80 percent would result in a maximum EPA range of 264 miles (425 km), which is six miles less than the Standard package on a full charge.

R1 Store

Photo: Rivian

Unfortunately, Rivian apparently realized that the mid-range 109.4 kWh battery version was popular with potential customers and decided to kill two birds with one stone.

Enter Large+

While the Dual-Motor plus Large Pack R1S can’t be found in the R1 Shop without a link, it does exist. It even has the same EPA-estimated range of 330 miles. But it’s not the 109.4-kWh one. It’s the Large+, which is actually the 141.5-kWh Max Pack in disguise.

The automaker confirmed the existence of this battery option, telling RivianTrackr that it is “updating the range of some Max Pack R1 vehicles to match the starting prices and range (up to 330 miles) of our Large Pack.”

“These large, dual-engine vehicles deliver the same performance, range and features customers expect from vehicles with two large engines” a company spokesman explained.

It doesn’t make sense to give customers more batteries for less money to begin with. It’s not only a strange financial decision, it’s also questionable from a practical perspective. Adding 32.1 kWh of energy storage will make the EV a bit heavier for no reason.

New Rivian R1S

Photo: Rivian

But Rivian is smart. They wouldn’t do something like this without a good plan. That’s why we believe the brand will officially announce the Large+ option soon and let potential buyers know they can unlock more battery capacity with a one-time payment.

The brand doesn’t want to reveal too many details for now, but it did inform a few curious fans that “We are investigating ways to provide greater range on Dual Large+ vehicles and will share details as we know more.”

It has already experimented with something similar when it announced a $5,000 “Performance” upgrade for the original R1-series EVs. It knows it can be done. The option is still available today. It unlocks 132 hp with nothing more than a software update.

More for less?

Don’t worry; Rivian is likely playing around with how much power each module can handle. Owners won’t have to carry around cells they’re not using. It wouldn’t even make sense, since it would shorten the battery life. It may seem odd, but having more battery capacity and not using all of it could be healthier for the battery storage unit in the long run. So, overall, this is a good thing.

New Rivian R1S

Photo: Rivian

Essentially, what we’re seeing is Rivian giving customers a bigger battery than they paid for, and potentially letting them unlock its full capacity with a paid upgrade. Not bad for a company that needs all the money it can get to survive until the mass-market models are ready for prime time.

Add to that the Connect+ package, which includes in-vehicle internet, live camera streaming, satellite imagery, YouTube and Google Cast, which would cost $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year, and it’s clear the Irvine-based company wants to grow while still giving customers what they want.

Rivian isn’t the first or last company to do something like this. Tesla recently announced that some Model Y RWD customers can purchase an “Energy Boost” option that unlocks 30 to 50 miles (48 to 80 km) of additional range.

Finally, if you’re looking to buy an R1S equipped with the Large+ Pack, check to see if it includes a free Xpel Stealth pack, as some units include it. It could come in handy when you least expect it!