First Vegas Trip. Rivian R1T outperformed Tesla Model S, by a large margin!

Took my first trip to Vegas from L.A. with the Rivian. Having come from Tesla's, my mind was preprogrammed that the Rivian would not and should not perform as well as the Tesla did on the same trip.

Long story short, being that my details below are a bit of a jumbled mess. Spoiler to the result is: The same trip to Vegas in the Rivian, at roughly the same speeds, took me 40 minutes less total travel time than it did in a Tesla Model S LR (100 kWh battery) with a claimed 365 miles in range. Should be close to a 60 minute saving next time, now that I know what the Rivian is capable of. Doesn't seem logical or possible, but "real world", the Rivian outperforms the Tesla in long distance travel. Not in terms of efficiency, but in time, which is most important to me personally.

Details below as best as I can remember.

Tesla likes to inflate their range figures for the highest number possible. But, in real world driving, driving at "flow of traffic" speeds, my actual range in the Tesla always ended up being in the 65% range. Thus, my car would charge to 365 miles in range, per the car. At best, driving "normally" (for me at least), staying with the flow of traffic which is usually in the 80-85 MPH range. Even at that, still get run over by many. Sure, I could slow down and get better range, but I calculated that with the Tesla, it was still quicker to drive faster and charge a little more than it was to drive slow and save some charging time. Tesla charges at 300+ MPH, certainly much faster than you drive. When you can put 90 miles of range in the car in 10 minutes, better than driving 10 miles per hour slower for three hours. Gain at least 30 minutes going faster, sacrificing 10 minutes back to charging, thus a net 20 minutes quicker driving faster.

With the Tesla, it was always right on the edge to make it to Baker from L.A.. Even tighter making it from Baker back to L.A. Range would always be under 20 miles left. If there was a head wind, or was cold, generally had to plan in a quick stop in Barstow to top it off for 10 minutes just to be safe.

With the Rivian and its 265 miles in range showing, I assumed I would be stopping in Barstow. I got to Barstow and still had well over 50% left. Was very surprised. Was averaging in the 77 to 85 MPH range. Skipped the stop and traveled on. Made it to Baker with 36 miles of range left.

Screen when arriving in Baker the first time. (started off at 91% charge).


I only charged to 91% as I didn't think there was a chance in heck that I would be going straight to Baker. Didn't see the point in going to 100% as I could make Barstow easily.

From Baker, then travelled to Vegas and back to Baker. I only charged to about 87% in 56 minutes. Truck showed 246 miles in range, so the math didn't add up based on what the charger said versus what the truck showed. Total trip to Vegas and back was about 200 miles. I chickened out in Vegas and stopped to give it a quick boost for 10 minutes just to be safe since I didn't know how it would do going up the steep grades just beyond the state line. Added 31 kWh in that 10 minutes, roughly 65 miles in range per the truck. I arrived back in Baker with 98 miles in range. Thus, had I not stopped, would have made it back with around 33 miles of range to spare.

I charged for about 45 minutes. Got the range to 255 miles. Made it home with 34 miles in range left. 192 mile trip.

My numbers are not scientific. Some are from memory. But, having made the Vegas trip many times in my Tesla, I knew what I dealt with each time.

Typically, in the Tesla, made it home from Baker with less than 10 miles in range remaining each time. Almost always had to adjust my speed just a little based on warnings from the car that I needed to slow down to reach destination.

Yes, the Tesla technically uses less energy. But, the Rivian allowed me to travel the same path with absolutely no range anxiety, always having plenty to spare.

Furthermore, with the Tesla, I always ended up charging for about an hour and 15 minutes at each stop to get enough range to make it to my next stop. The Rivian, my longest charging session was 55 minutes. Saved at least 40 minutes total charging time for the round trip. Knowing what I know now, could have shortened up each charging stop by at least 5 to 10 minutes in the Rivian. Same trip in a Rivian vs a Tesla Model S, made it there and back 40 minutes quicker with the Rivian, travelling at basically the same speeds.

The Rivian is not only far more accurate in its range estimates, but apparently charges notably quicker than the Tesla. Being that it has a bigger battery and I was able to get the range I needed in 110 minutes (combined total for the round trip) instead of 150 minutes with the Tesla, The Rivian is clearly taking in more kWh than does the Tesla from a Supercharger. This was using 150 kw Electrify America chargers. Thus, would have been even quicker if I could have found a 350 kw charger. While the apps for both, EVgo and EA both showed 350 kw chargers in Baker, neither actually had anything faster than 150.

For me, time is valuable. Had planned on the Rivian absolutely taking longer to make the same trip. Shocked that it did so about 40 minutes faster and probably could have been closer to an hour faster.

Per the range indicator, Tesla actually gets 65% of its stated range while the Rivian gets closer to 90% of its stated range at these speeds. Doesn't seem logical, moving a brick through the air versus a sleek Tesla. Tesla at those speeds, I averaged around 2.4 miles per wh. Rivian, was at 1.9 for the total trip. Quite a small difference considering the shape of the vehicles.

Anyway, needless to say, very happy with how the Rivian performed.

(Average speed lower due to 60 miles being off freeway. Freeway speeds for the other 130 miles was in the 80-85 mph range)

Thank you for leaving whatever happened in Vegas in Vegas.

Thanks for the report. I have also been impressed with the real world range.

Thanks for the write up. On the freeways, were you in conserve mode doing your 80-85? I'm assuming so?

Thanks for the report but I'm a little confused. What was your total trip length and how far from LA to where you stopped in Vegas?

I've done multiple trips in my Model 3 LR and the Rivian from SF Bay area to Vegas as well. I tried to compare but the chargers in Barstow and Baker we thermally limited in June and wouldn't charger faster than 38kWh sadly.

I do remember leaving Vegas with a full charge in both vehicles. The Rivian wanted me to charge in Mojave (before going up Tehachapi) and the Tesla had me charging in Barstow. Did you take this route as well?

RivianXpress said:

Thanks for the report but I'm a little confused. What was your total trip length and how far from LA to where you stopped in Vegas?

I've done multiple trips in my Model 3 LR and the Rivian from SF Bay area to Vegas as well. I tried to compare but the chargers in Barstow and Baker we thermally limited in June and wouldn't charger faster than 38kWh sadly.

I do remember leaving Vegas with a full charge in both vehicles. The Rivian wanted me to charge in Mojave (before going up Tehachapi) and the Tesla had me charging in Barstow. Did you take this route as well?

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I kept resetting the trip meter at each charging stop to see what the miles per wh figure was for each leg. But, Baker being 192 miles from my house. Plus the 200 miles I drove from Baker to Vegas back to Baker again, then back home, total mileage (not sure why it's relevant?), was 192 twice (384 miles) plus 200+/- a couple of miles. So total trip about 584 miles.

Not sure why you were thermally limited, but if you were only getting 38 kw charging speeds, then you can't really compare your results. I started off getting close to the 150 max. naturally, tapered down as the battery filled up. I did take a photo just before unplugging at Baker and see that it was still at 44 kw while at 87%. So my top end was higher than your max. Clearly there was some issue for you with either, the truck or the charger.

Plus, can't compare trips since we were on different paths. But, again, if you were only maxing at 38kw, then certainly would not have been quicker than charging the Tesla. Also, Model 3 vs Model S are different animals as well. Depending on what year the M3 was, charging rates for the M3 were quicker than for the MS for a period of time.

Photo just before unplugging after first stop in Baker showing it still taking in 44kw, while at 87% state of charge.



This was the second stop in Baker on the way back and was at 144kw. But I took this photo as soon as I plugged in. It ramped up a little more from there.


I did also notice that about an hour out from the charger, the Rivian already put a message up that it was prepping the battery for the charge. So, it's a good idea to use Navigation even when you don't need it. The truck (Tesla cars do too), use that info to maximize charging.

Hope that helps, answer your question?

COdogman said:

Thank you for leaving whatever happened in Vegas in Vegas.

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Dolla' bills, lots of em!! LOL. I'm kidding, I'm kidding!! Details were boring. Real Estate related quick trip up and back.

You should become an EA member. The $4 per month will be paid for with one charge. 31 cents per kw vs 43 cents

kizamybute' said:

Doesn't seem logical or possible, but "real world", the Rivian outperforms the Tesla in long distance travel. Not in terms of efficiency, but in time, which is most important to me personally.

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If your criterion is time then you headline should be "Rivan Charging System Out Performs..." Given the state of the CCS charging system that does not seems logical or possible but I suppose there could be places in the US where the availability, reliabilty, speed and location of the CCS system dispensers does exceed that of the SC network.

That is not the case along I91. We had to make an unplanned run down to Hanover yesterday, Because of this the truck was not charged to 90+% as it would have been had we planned the trip. This means that charge had to be acquired during the day and the (round) trip took longer that it would have with the Tesla. There were a couple of 50 kW chargers along the route and they are fine but not very fast. End result the Rivian "system" (and people need to understand the the charging system is as important a subsystem as the transport subsystem) under performed the Tesla system.

I also did a turnaround trip from Orange County to Las Vegas this weekend!

Made it on a single charge with 18 miles to spare. Started at 100%, cruise control at 74, using Conserve mode. Coming home, started at 100%, cruise control around 75, used All-Purpose Low (post s/w update), arrived with 62 miles remaining! I did make three quick stops to check out charging locations.
Next up will be a trip from OC to Idaho!

Ladiver said:

I also did a turnaround trip from Orange County to Las Vegas this weekend!

Made it on a single charge with 18 miles to spare. Started at 100%, cruise control at 74, using Conserve mode. Coming home, started at 100%, cruise control around 75, used All-Purpose Low (post s/w update), arrived with 62 miles remaining! I did make three quick stops to check out charging locations.
Next up will be a trip from OC to Idaho!

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Where did you charge In las vegas?

Ginny said:

Where did you charge In las vegas?

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My parents just moved into a house and had a NEMA 14-50 installed, so I used my mobile charger. Took nearly 20 hours to charge back up to full for the trip home. Thankfully, I had the extra day. Otherwise I would have charged at a 150 kWh station a mile from their home in Southern Highlands.

RivianXpress said:

Thanks for the report but I'm a little confused. What was your total trip length and how far from LA to where you stopped in Vegas?

I've done multiple trips in my Model 3 LR and the Rivian from SF Bay area to Vegas as well. I tried to compare but the chargers in Barstow and Baker we thermally limited in June and wouldn't charger faster than 38kWh sadly.

I do remember leaving Vegas with a full charge in both vehicles. The Rivian wanted me to charge in Mojave (before going up Tehachapi) and the Tesla had me charging in Barstow. Did you take this route as well?

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I have a theory that the 150kW stations might actually end up faster for the Rivian when it's extremely hot outside because of thermal throttling on the EA side.

Ginny said:

Where did you charge In las vegas?

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Was at a Walmart off the 215 Freeway. On Arroyo Crossing Parkway

Dark-Fx said:

I have a theory that the 150kW stations might actually end up faster for the Rivian when it's extremely hot outside because of thermal throttling on the EA side.

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is the thermal throttling on the EA side? I've seen the message that charging is limited by station, but when i've been charging over 200kw and it drops it never gives that message and sometimes specifically gives the message that charging slowed while battery cools. I feel like it's the Rivian being unable to cool the batteries for very long while charging at over 200kw that causes the truck to throttle the charging while it tries to catch up with the cooling.