Anyone have R2 highway driving range to share? (I'm sure the color you picked looks great)

[Jeremy3292]

The case for an EV will almost never be won on road trips. The road trip case is the one compromise you make owning an EV - It just takes longer for now.

However, the upsides outweigh the downsides for most. If you have or will have a level 2 charger at your house, unless your wife is frequently taking 5+ hour trips, I'd say the upside of NEVER HAVING TO STOP AT A GAS STATION AGAIN far outweighs the extra time on the occasional road trips. No smelly gas fumes, no watching ads on a gas station screen yelling at you, no dreading stopping on your morning commute wondering if you have time to fill up before you have to get to work. With an EV you wake up and the car is charged with a full "tank," (or whatever percentage you want).

And you no longer have to worry about the constant gas-price changes. My 300ish miles on my R1S cost me about $20 to fill up at home (15.5 cents kw/h * 131 kWh). For a comparable SUV (e.g., 20mpg) that equates to $1.33 cents a gallon in gas.

For my model Y - which is more like the R2 in size and efficiency than my R1S - I've saved $1,867 this year just on fuel over a comparable car. Of my total charging over 92% has been Level 2 charging at home or my parent's house (I installed a charger there). only 8% was at a Supercharger.

Or ... you can stick with gas and spend more of your life fueling your vehicle, changing the oil in your vehicle (no oil changes in EVs!), servicing the many moving parts in your vehicle, and spend more money overall ... just for a quicker occassional road trip.

I'm sure there is a lack of "education" with most people when it comes to EV's; no doubt about that. But no amount of "education" will change how a lot of people feel and what they desire though. My wife will never drive an EV and has zero desire to do so. She's fine with me driving one and us going places together bc she knows I'll take care of all the charging. She barely keeps her phone charged so telling her to plug in her car at night or look for a charger is just a nonstarter.

Gas is seen as easier for most people and there's nothing wrong with that. People are different and like different things. Easier to you or me may be harder for someone else. Not everyone wants to be on the cutting edge of new technology either. In fact a large majority of people don't want that. Until there is an EV charger that just works on every street corner of America like gas stations are, EV's will remain a nonstarter for a lot of people - and that's ok.

Edited for clarity

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[JeffnReno]

I used to drive our 2016 Rogue from Reno to Greensboro, NC and back every year for several years to see my Dad before he passed in 2020. Our Tesla Model 3 stayed home since I would take my dad to his appointments and out to places and it was much easier for him to get in and out of the Rogue being a higher vehicle. We also drive between Reno and Solana Beach, CA every year and use our Tesla without issue. I prefer the Tesla since it is a much more enjoyable ride with the driver assist features and stopping to charge 2 or 3 times on a 10-11 hour drive is a blessing not a curse. I usually keep my speed set to 10% over unless in a 75 mph area then I do the limit because of traffic and higher prolonged speed adds stress to most vehicles and occupants.

I haven't heard much mention of the newer 4695 LG battery cells in the R2 compared to the 2170s in most Rivians and Teslas. I hope they turn out to be great and I'm willing to roll the dice to find out but until they're used in real world vehicles for a period of time, do we really know?

 

[Zathras]

My wife made it clear our next EV needs to have around 4 hours driving time at 75 mph. I know the R2 won't get that but if it can go almost 3.5 hours on 100-10% charge I might be able to convince her. Any one have any efficiency numbers for highway driving at a specific speed they'd be willing to share? Showing her nice colors of R2s won't get me anywhere.

How often at that speed and distance?

It just seems like a random number, but is there a specific vehicle she’s referencing?

 

[Husky]

I'm sure there is a lack of "education" with most people when it comes to EV's; no doubt about that. But no amount of "education" will change how a lot of people feel and what they desire though. My wife will never drive an EV and has zero desire to do so. She's fine with me driving one and us going places together bc she knows I'll take care of all the charging. She barely keeps her phone charged so telling her to plug in her car at night or look for a charger is just a nonstarter.

Gas is objectively easier for most people and there's nothing wrong with that. People are different and like different things. Easier to you or me may be harder for someone else. Not everyone wants to be on the cutting edge of new technology either. In fact a large majority of people don't want that. Until there is an EV charger that just works on every street corner of America like gas stations are, EV's will remain a nonstarter for a lot of people - and that's ok.

I'm sure this will be kicking the hornet's nest, but here goes ; I would say it's not ok if you believe in global climate change and the damage being caused by burning fossil fuels.
I'm a bit surprised that even in the Rivian forum, I have yet to hear a single person express the idea that they bought an EV primarily to avoid burning gasoline (other than for monetary reasons). Rather, it seems it's more about having the latest tech.
The primary reason I'm looking at buying our second EV is to not use gas. For all the keyboard warriors, yes I realize we presently use fossil fuels to generate most of our electricity (at least in the US, except for those of us with solar panels).

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I used to drive our 2016 Rogue from Reno to Greensboro, NC and back every year for several years to see my Dad before he passed in 2020. Our Tesla Model 3 stayed home since I would take my dad to his appointments and out to places and it was much easier for him to get in and out of the Rogue being a higher vehicle. We also drive between Reno and Solana Beach, CA every year and use our Tesla without issue. I prefer the Tesla since it is a much more enjoyable ride with the driver assist features and stopping to charge 2 or 3 times on a 10-11 hour drive is a blessing not a curse. I usually keep my speed set to 10% over unless in a 75 mph area then I do the limit because of traffic and higher prolonged speed adds stress to most vehicles and occupants.

I haven't heard much mention of the newer 4695 LG battery cells in the R2 compared to the 2170s in most Rivians and Teslas. I hope they turn out to be great and I'm willing to roll the dice to find out but until they're used in real world vehicles for a period of time, do we really know?

https://en.highstar.com/blog/4695-cylindrical-battery-rivian-r2

Appears to be a paper from a Chinese battery manufacturer, talking about a competitor's (LG) 4695, the strengths of the 46 series battery in general, and why Rivian chose it. So, somewhat impartial.

From consumer POV, you won't feel the difference. The advantage of higher energy density for automakers is needing fewer cells to build a pack, which not only mean lower quantity of cells to buy, but also lower assembly complexity and cost.

And once LG's US plant ramps, that'd remove tariffs out of that supply equation. One of the reasons lower priced R2 trims aren't offered yet.

 

[ksurfier]

I'm sure this will be kicking the hornet's nest, but here goes ; I would say it's not ok if you believe in global climate change and the damage being caused by burning fossil fuels.
I'm a bit surprised that even in the Rivian forum, I have yet to hear a single person express the idea that they bought an EV primarily to avoid burning gasoline (other than for monetary reasons). Rather, it seems it's more about having the latest tech.
The primary reason I'm looking at buying our second EV is to not use gas. For all the keyboard warriors, yes I realize we presently use fossil fuels to generate most of our electricity (at least in the US, except for those of us with solar panels).

EVs didn’t win because environmentalists convinced everyone. They won because economics did. Once they became cheaper to fuel, cheaper to maintain, and good enough for daily use, the case made itself.

 

[JeffnReno]

I'm sure this will be kicking the hornet's nest, but here goes ; I would say it's not ok if you believe in global climate change and the damage being caused by burning fossil fuels.
I'm a bit surprised that even in the Rivian forum, I have yet to hear a single person express the idea that they bought an EV primarily to avoid burning gasoline (other than for monetary reasons). Rather, it seems it's more about having the latest tech.
The primary reason I'm looking at buying our second EV is to not use gas. For all the keyboard warriors, yes I realize we presently use fossil fuels to generate most of our electricity (at least in the US, except for those of us with solar panels).

I'm with you on that and is the reason I have solar on my roof and will be buying our 4th EV when the R2 number comes up. I used to tell ICE only people to go out and warm up their car in the garage with the door closed and see how that works out for them. We do still own our 2016 Rogue but rarely drive it as it's only a back up in case of a prolonged shop stay of our EV. Not long after getting our '23 Model Y, it was hit in a parking garage. We dropped it at a Tesla approved body shop in Nov. and didn't get it back until Feb. If we didn't have another vehicle the rental cost alone would have cost us more than the annual insurance/registration on the Rogue does so it will remain in place until that becomes a non-issue for Tesla and Rivian vehicles that are supply limited, which probably won't happen in my life time.

 

[Husky]

EVs didn’t win because environmentalists convinced everyone. They won because economics did. Once they became cheaper to fuel, cheaper to maintain, and good enough for daily use, the case made itself.

That may be true, but it wasn't my point. In fact it strengthens my point that despite all the data (France and England are in a heat state of emergency right now), the climate seems to be low on the list (or missing from it entirely) of most people's reasons to go EV.

 

[tivoboy]

I want to put together the proper reply here, but I just have to say

THIS IS AN AWESOME THREAD!… it has literally EVERYTHING.

We’ve got EV efficiency, we’ve got EV ECONOMY, we’ve got EV logistics, we’ve got CHARGING logistics & dynamics, and TRAVELING logistics.

We‘ve got VEHICLE variances, and GEOGRAPHIC variances and TEMPERATURE variances, and charging INFRASTRUCTURE variances.

And we’ve got HUMAN variables, like age, tolerance, need for physical movement, BLADDERS sizes, and bladder Size differences between the genders (probably one of the ONLY realistically arguable clear biological differences that can be discussed without raising ppls blood pressure)

AND we have RECOMMENDATIONS and suggestions for ALL OF THESE - although nobody has yet to recommend the “travels buddy” for both men AND women - not that that was what the OP was looking for.

Simply a complete EV (and to a slightly lesser extent Rivian or R2) broad based buy high functional level discussion of known and learned experiences. Someone needs to take the entire thread, run it through AI, vet it and turn it into a STICKY.

Ill be back.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

EVs didn’t win because environmentalists convinced everyone. They won because economics did. Once they became cheaper to fuel, cheaper to maintain, and good enough for daily use, the case made itself.

And once drivers got behind the wheel of one, they realized how much more responsive (in terms of power delivery) EVs are compared to ICE. It's a much more direct connection between man and machine... like riding a highly trained horse that responds to your inputs instantly vs a mule that would rather not and eventually obey, begrudgingly.

EV holdouts/skeptics haven't experienced this, because of their stubborn bias. Once they do, the usual excuses evaporate and become something else: "too expensive". And that excuse, barring politics and protectionism, will eventually evaporate too.

 

[Husky]

That may be true, but it wasn't my point. In fact it strengthens my point that despite all the data (France and England are in a heat state of emergency right now), the climate seems to be low on the list (or missing from it entirely) of most people's reasons to go EV.

Don't get me wrong - I'm thrilled to see EVs becoming more popular, for any reason. I'm just a bit surprised and disappointed in people's reasoning.

 

[Husky]

And once drivers got behind the wheel of one, they realized how much more responsive (in terms of power delivery) EVs are compared to ICE. It's a much more direct connection between man and machine... like riding a highly trained horse that responds to your inputs instantly vs a mule that would rather not and eventually obey, begrudgingly.

EV holdouts/skeptics haven't experienced this, because of their stubborn bias. Once they do, the usual excuses evaporate and become something else: "too expensive". And that excuse, barring politics and protectionism, will eventually evaporate too.

True. I have a longtime friend who is a fellow car enthusiast, and an amateur racer. But he's very conservative and anti-EV, although he's never driven one. He's holding out for hydrogen
When I get my R2 I plan to convince him to try it (although I've been unsuccessful in that so far with our EV6).

 

[CharonPDX]

Gas is objectively easier for most people...

I would argue that gas isn't easier, it's just that people are "more familiar" with it.

I find "take a few seconds to plug in when I get home" *FAR* easier than "go out of my way to add gas every week or so".

Even on road trips, yes, the more common availability of gas stations makes it ubiquitous, but EVs with decent navigation systems handle figuring out when to charge, you just pull in where it tells you to and plug in. That's pretty darn easy.

 

[azbill]

Basically you're asking for 300 mi range at 75 mph.

Porsche Cayenne Electric has been tested to achieve 350 miles range at 70 mph which equates to ~310 miles at 75 mph. So there's your 4 hours. Look at this calculator.

What really should be considered is the combo of range and charge speed. What if over 4 hours you could charge once and travel even further than 300 miles? Take a small break and get to your destination faster. This is where things are headed with ever increasing charge speeds. This calculator will allow you to add a charging stop.

I'm not pushing the Porsche even though I have one on order. They're terribly expensive and the dealer service is criminal. I bought one because I'm willing to get screwed for the sporty handling.

We got an Excalade IQ Sport recently and took it on a 2400 mile road trip, easily gets over 400 miles at 75mph, and peak charging is at 375kw.

 

[Jeremy3292]

I would argue that gas isn't easier, it's just that people are "more familiar" with it.

I find "take a few seconds to plug in when I get home" *FAR* easier than "go out of my way to add gas every week or so".

Even on road trips, yes, the more common availability of gas stations makes it ubiquitous, but EVs with decent navigation systems handle figuring out when to charge, you just pull in where it tells you to and plug in. That's pretty darn easy.

That's simply your opinion though. Not everyone feels that way and that's ok from my perspective.

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