MKBHD Interview: Rivian CEO Scaringe Talks R1S and Future of Rivian (R2, Wireless Charging Pad, Camp Kitchen Update, Etc.)

[SamDoe1]

Couple of thoughts I had after watching/listening:

• I'll happily take the storage cubby option with no glove box; generally if the vehicle is near me, I prefer to use its sound system as it is so much better. If I have to carry the speaker somewhere, I probably don't need music anyways in that locale (ie quiet beach)
• For RAN deployment, I think continuing to fill in gaps and in alignment with the 'adventure' ethos would be a better investment (e.g. many underserved areas for DCFC in Utah and the mountainous 'outdoorsy' areas of south-east BC) rather than just adding more along Interstates (which was my takeaway from RJs answer)
• There weren't that many specifics on the R2 program, but a couple items caught my eye:
  • 'not making announcement/reveal soon, but maybe in the next year'
  • He discussed size a bit and implied it will be smaller than the R1 series, which I think most of us expected, but nice for confirmation. So I'm guessing something along the lines of Tacoma sized and capability (ie less payload, tow capacity)
  • They want to keep the 'adventurous' branding for it, and have made some key decisions to ensure it aligns, but obviously won't be as complicated as R1 - so in my mind the suspension will be much simpler, and probably no gear tunnel either.
  • Wants to lower the BOM significantly - however, I don't interpret this to mean that the price will be significantly lower than R1, more that they are aiming for better margins on R2. He didn't indicate pricing relative to R1 other than mentioning target for BOM. But IIRC, Clare (CFO) had a recent interview where she mentioned upper end of R2 will be just below lowest end of R1.

Since I am still waiting for a Dual/Max, and given my location unlikely to get it until H1 or even H2 of 2024, I was kinda wondering about just holding out for a few more years for the R2, but after the confirmation of the smaller size/capability, I don't think the R2 will work to tow our current trailer, so will stick with R1.

The R1T is already Taco sized, it's only a couple inches different from an equivalent Taco. I'd imagine the R2 line will be heavily SUV focused with something along the lines of a Model Y/Mach E rather than a pickup truck. That said, the Maverick and Santa Cruz have been huge sales successes that they will probably try to capitalize on as well but the focus will most definitely be SUV focused. I could also see them ultimately making an even cheaper R1T/R1S with just a single motor RWD option as well.

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[Sacagawea]

Really wish they would prioritize some of the charging deserts like Montana, Dakotas, northern Minnesota. Most of the charging stations there are 1 CCS 50 kW chargers. Ugh.

Ok, and how about the Southwest like New Mexico. We have many National Parks here and are also a route TO many National Parks. Yet we are an EV desert (ok, literally too)

 

[KootenayEV]

The R1T is already Taco sized, it's only a couple inches different from an equivalent Taco. I'd imagine the R2 line will be heavily SUV focused with something along the lines of a Model Y/Mach E rather than a pickup truck. That said, the Maverick and Santa Cruz have been huge sales successes that they will probably try to capitalize on as well but the focus will most definitely be SUV focused. I could also see them ultimately making an even cheaper R1T/R1S with just a single motor RWD option as well.

Inches	Taco	Ridgeline	R1T	Lightning
Wheelbase	127	125	136	145
Length	212	210	217	232
Width (body)	75	78	77? (no one seems to have spec)	80
Height (std config)	72	71	76	78
Max payload	1295	1580	1760 (unicorn)	2000
Fr legroom	41.7	40.8	41.4	43.9
Rear legroom	32.6	36.4	36.6	43.6

Looks a bit bigger than my Honda Ridgeline, which is noticeably bigger than a Tacoma (especially in the interior space, I hate cramming into Tacos). R1T noticeably better in the payload department and other exterior metrics as well (e.g. approach/departure angles).

I think there is room for a smaller R2T that is less complicated than the R1T and more suited for mass production to topple the Tacoma.

 

[Autolycus]

Couple of thoughts I had after watching/listening:

• For RAN deployment, I think continuing to fill in gaps and in alignment with the 'adventure' ethos would be a better investment (e.g. many underserved areas for DCFC in Utah and the mountainous 'outdoorsy' areas of south-east BC) rather than just adding more along Interstates (which was my takeaway from RJs answer)

Nah, they're focused on overall customer experience. The number of people who will use a RAN station along the coastal N/S corridors is way more than would use them for more adventurous locations. They eventually want those adventurous locations, but the priority should be the same as it is for all EV networks: Those areas with the most demand.

Which is worse for Rivian's brand? A bunch of families with little kids stranded along I-5 or I-95 because a suddenly dead EA station is the only option for their extremely common route or a handful of people who wish they could go somewhere they can't currently go?

 

[KootenayEV]

Nah, they're focused on overall customer experience. The number of people who will use a RAN station along the coastal N/S corridors is way more than would use them for more adventurous locations. They eventually want those adventurous locations, but the priority should be the same as it is for all EV networks: Those areas with the most demand.

Which is worse for Rivian's brand? A bunch of families with little kids stranded along I-5 or I-95 because a suddenly dead EA station is the only option for their extremely common route or a handful of people who wish they could go somewhere they can't currently go?

I suppose I'm in the minority. My thought process is that they are attempting to differentiate themselves with the 'adventurous forever' branding. Pretty soon there will be dime-a-dozen chargers on the Interstates with all the funding coming from the gov't. I'm not saying they shouldn't put any on the Interstates, just thought it would fit their branding to be places others are not.

 

[Autolycus]

I suppose I'm in the minority. My thought process is that they are attempting to differentiate themselves with the 'adventurous forever' branding. Pretty soon there will be dime-a-dozen chargers on the Interstates with all the funding coming from the gov't. I'm not saying they shouldn't put any on the Interstates, just thought it would fit their branding to be places others are not.

I don't think you're necessarily in the minority among enthusiasts. I think it's just a preference vs. business type thing. You're right that it would fit better with the brand they're building. The problem is that negative publicity is far more damaging than the extra brand benefit.

I do think it's interesting that their initial rollout hasn't actually been along I-5 and I-95, so they took a bit of a middle ground. In California and Oregon they've built stations on the coast and inland of the mountains, with only 2 on I-5 itself so far. The first few stations in Colorado are/will be more adventurous locations, for sure. The east coast corridor that seems to be the first priority is the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is a huge charging desert itself.

I really wish their "Coming Soon" map had at least 3 waves out, instead of just 1. I also wish it had more specificity than just "Soon" -- it really is a meme, right? Maybe planned within 6 months, 12 months, 18 months?

 

[zipzag]

Rivian may be throttled on the power electronics needed to build their DCFC chargers. Demand for some types of parts must be extreme. Rivian may have some supplier parts tradeoffs between getting vehicle parts or charger parts.

Rivian is going to choose to build vehicles before DCFC chargers.

I'm glad there is little new Waypoint charging. That approach was copied from Tesla but it makes less sense today.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

Guessing it doesn't show it while actively inflating, or the rate of inflation isn't nearly as significant so you don't have the opportunity to have much of a pressure differential. Either way I take what I said back because my R1T shows pressures while the R1S does NOT while it's inflating to a setpoint. It's a lot easier to be more accurate for the display when your inflation hose is less than two feet from the end versus 20+ that the Rivian uses.

If I remember tonight I can take a video comparing the two. It's possible that my R1T missed an update since I have that panel removed from the truck most of the time and don't always remember to put it back in before doing the update. The R1S seems to need to cycle on/off fewer times even with the same air hose.

The part I'm confused about is it obviously has to have a cut-off point as that's the set point. So it has to have some method of knowing what the tire pressure is. It's also accurate as the TPMS and a tire pressure gauge show the same pressure within an acceptable tolerance. At least it does with the Rivian tires.

I'd like a readout as I want to make sure its not overinflating something due to user error in setting the set point or some malfunction.

Another possibility would be more clarity in which mode it's in. Whether its inflating to what the user set or in the inflate mode. The first time I used the tire inflator I encountered a problem where the first couple tires inflated just fine to the set point, but I had to manually stop the inflation of the third as it was taking longer than expected. Apparently what happened is it timed out of the inflate to set point mode, and was in the inflate only mode which inflates till manually stopped.

I haven't reported anything to Rivian about this issue yet as I haven't had a chance to test it again to see if I wasn't just being an idiot.

 

[LoneStar]

That was a very interesting, enjoyable and relaxing engagement with RJ.
I applaud the Waveform dude. His comments and insights were genuine.

 

[doozenberg]

Anyone have more details on rough timeframe for this charging pad revision?

 

[Lizardo]

Anyone have more details on rough timeframe for this charging pad revision?

Don't think they have released any details on it

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