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Just a thought, I was wondering if anyone has put carbon fiber wheels and or parts on their R1.

RivianGuyG

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As the title suggests, I was wondering if anyone has put carbon fiber wheels, doors, hood, etc. on there are one and if he's had any impact on the range.

I guess looking at it from a weight perspective it might have an advantage on increasing range, but what would the "range buff" for lack of better term be?

Any comments would be helpful, just doing this more of us a thought experiment than anything else.
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CF parts will buy A LOT of electricity; even at Cali rates.
 

mikehmb

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My name is Mike, and I have a (car) problem
As the title suggests, I was wondering if anyone has put carbon fiber wheels, doors, hood, etc. on there are one and if he's had any impact on the range.

I guess looking at it from a weight perspective it might have an advantage on increasing range, but what would the "range buff" for lack of better term be?

Any comments would be helpful, just doing this more of us a thought experiment than anything else.
“Range Buff” = Hypermiler, I would guess.

It’s pretty beaten to death here on the forums, but the two most impactful things you can do for range:
1) Stick with all-season tires
2) Drive slower

Anything else is going to buy you 1% (best case) here or there. Lightening up the body panels won’t buy much if anything at all. Wheels - maybe? But I would imagine CF wheels that can support 10k lbs would be Not Cheap.
 

Killer95Stang

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And just because I haven't googled it... How much weight can you save on a truck with mostly aluminum parts? In my opinion, pushing the 7000# brick shaped SUV through air at speed is the biggest obstacle to range. Maybe a nose cone and shopping cart daytona wing would help more than a couple hundred pounds of weight. Although an exposed carbon R1S, would look awesome.
 

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Killer95Stang

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“Range Buff” = Hypermiler, I would guess.

It’s pretty beaten to death here on the forums, but the two most impactful things you can do for range:
1) Stick with all-season tires
2) Drive slower

Anything else is going to buy you 1% (best case) here or there. Lightening up the body panels won’t buy much if anything at all. Wheels - maybe? But I would imagine CF wheels that can support 10k lbs would be Not Cheap.
Those CF wheels aren't cheap for sure, plus I thought I read they have a shelf life.
 

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Rivian's body panels are already pretty light.
 
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RivianGuyG

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Uh, does anyone even make CF wheels that will safely support this 7,100 lb ballerina?
I have no idea, but as someone who loves the look of carbon fibre, I would hope so. Although, looking at the other comments, I don't think it would be practical.
 

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RivianGuyG

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“Range Buff” = Hypermiler, I would guess.

It’s pretty beaten to death here on the forums, but the two most impactful things you can do for range:
1) Stick with all-season tires
2) Drive slower

Anything else is going to buy you 1% (best case) here or there. Lightening up the body panels won’t buy much if anything at all. Wheels - maybe? But I would imagine CF wheels that can support 10k lbs would be Not Cheap.

Today I learned the word "Hypermiler". I have the car optioned with Road tires, I assuming they are all season.

but I wanna drive super fast all the time!! /s

True, it was mostly a thought experiment, although a full carbon fibre R1S wheels and all would look sexy af, imho.
 

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RivianGuyG

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And just because I haven't googled it... How much weight can you save on a truck with mostly aluminum parts? In my opinion, pushing the 7000# brick shaped SUV through air at speed is the biggest obstacle to range. Maybe a nose cone and shopping cart daytona wing would help more than a couple hundred pounds of weight. Although an exposed carbon R1S, would look awesome.

I did not either, but I just did and for a sheet 6mm thick of 1m^2 area. Here are the weights;
  • 47.4 kg (~ 100 lbs) for a steel sheet
  • 16.2 kg (~ 32 lbs) for an aluminium sheet
  • 9.3 kg (~ 18 lbs) for a carbon fiber sheet.
So Carbon Fiber is about 7kg (14 lbs) lighter that aluminium
 
 








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