Official Video: How Does it Feel to Drive a Rivian (Featuring Preorder Holders)

[Babbuino]

Today (at least for part one)!

Thanks! Yeah I couldn't wait and watched the full thing in Rivian Stories
Can't wait for the second guest interview

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[TheGymKid]

My thought exactly, the black or maybe even the ocean also with the forest edge wood i think would look nice,

Agreed ! Even if the dark seats/wood had a light ceiling fabric maybe.

 

[SANZC02]

Thanks! Yeah I couldn't wait and watched the full thing in Rivian Stories
Can't wait for the second guest interview

I had to watch the full video as well.

John was a good person to have been invited to the event and then be interviewed. With his past Tesla experience 2013 and now 2019, he was able to draw some comparisons on some of the aspects between the 2.

Really enjoyed the conversation.

 

[DuckTruck]

Due to Covid inter-island travel was still questionable when we booked our trip so we chose to stay on Oahu for the entire trip.... although I do like Maui also. We are a bit of a Disney family so we split our time between Waikiki and the Disney Aulani resort. This was a make up trip for my oldest missing her senior trip to Europe and Mediterranean cruise that was cancelled in 2020. It also allowed me to make up a shark swim that I had booked for my youngest that got canceled when we were in Hawaii back in 2018. We had booked it for late in the trip and it ended up getting canceled due to a small boat advisory.... and there wasn't enough time in our trip to have a redo. We weren't going to make that mistake again so it was booked early in the trip this time!

Outstanding pics, all! Hunama Bay is a great place to play in the water. That said, I get the heeby-jeebies just seeing those shark pics. Man, too many viewings of Jaws! If I had kids, Oahu and Maui would be the best landing spots, no doubt.

Glad to hear and see that you had such a good time!

Aloha!

 

[DuckTruck]

Hey DuckTruck, I had a couple of questions if you have any insight. Did they ever mention if there was a heat pump for the battery management system, or are they not concerned about that? Just curious if anyone asked how cold weather affects range, or if they felt it necessary to add later on? Also, did they say if the charge rate would reach 350kW someday with updates, or if needed an 800 volt architecture for another generation? Thank you

Let me sleep on that and get back to you tomorrow. I know I heard about the BMS providing temp management, but don't recall if a heat pump is part of the solution. I had a great time with old friends last night and then sat up until the wee ours chatting here. I'll try to remember more and let you know in the morning.

Take care!

 

[Canthoney]

Let me sleep on that and get back to you tomorrow. I know I heard about the BMS providing temp management, but don't recall if a heat pump is part of the solution. I had a great time with old friends last night and then sat up until the wee ours chatting here. I'll try to remember more and let you know in the morning.

Take care!

No problem! I appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions!

 

[electruck]

Did they ever mention if there was a heat pump for the battery management system, or are they not concerned about that? Just curious if anyone asked how cold weather affects range, or if they felt it necessary to add later on?

I'm not sure we can say with total 100% confidence but info to date indicates no heat pump (CS has explicitly stated no fwtw and press materials seem to agree). Here is a good read regarding cold weather performance.

 

[Attesan997]

I'm not sure we can say with total 100% confidence but info to date indicates no heat pump (CS has explicitly stated no fwtw and press materials seem to agree). Here is a good read regarding cold weather performance.

Time will tell but I'd think using the drive system to heat things seems less efficient than a heat pump. But then I have zero knowledge of such things. If it can perform well at -40F then that would more than satisfy the average user.

 

[electruck]

Time will tell but I think using the drive system to heat things seems less efficient than a heat pump. But then I have zero knowledge of such things. If it can perform well at -40F then that would more than satisfy the average user.

They appear to have optimized for a wider range of operating conditions vs being highly optimized for a narrower range. They also appear to be making smart use of available thermal by sharing between the 3 circuits. But we really just don't know enough about the system to assess its performance so we shouldn't jump to any unfounded conclusions. As you state, time will tell.

 

[DuckTruck]

Let me sleep on that and get back to you tomorrow. I know I heard about the BMS providing temp management, but don't recall if a heat pump is part of the solution. I had a great time with old friends last night and then sat up until the wee ours chatting here. I'll try to remember more and let you know in the morning.

Take care!

No problem! I appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions!

It’s my pleasure. Im enjoying all of conversations with the group. As pointed out in the article referenced by electruck,

https://www.slashgear.com/rivian-r1t-cold-weather-testing-commences-in-frigid-minnesota-01661699/

I don’t believe we heard about a heat pump being a part of the BMS. I believe that the heat needed to maintain the battery’s temp into the desired working range will be provided by leaving it plugged when parked as well as some heating that will be take place when you pull up to a commercial charging station when out in the Winter elements. I seem to recall that the BMS will also activate some of the cooling system capabilities when plugged in and parked in the extreme heat situations (as my ELR does) but others may have a more definitive answer to that question.

I have a call in to confirm that info, so will let you know what I find.

Thanks!

 

[Riventures]

Thank you all for the information you have been sharing.

A couple of questions, hopefully, they have not been asked previously (I suspect I missed some of the posts in this long thread):

• Has there been any talk, mention, or any of the drivers felt the use of torque vector steering? Since it is a quad-motor vehicle, I do suspect it is being used, particularly given the dynamics the vehicles are exhibiting in turns in the videos.
• During the uphill rock crawling session, I could not see if there were any 360 camera views of the vehicle, which would show the terrain in front even if the driver is only seeing the sky. Is that not part of the vehicle?

Thank you in advance.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

• During the uphill rock crawling session, I could not see if there were any 360 camera views of the vehicle, which would show the terrain in front even if the driver is only seeing the sky. Is that not part of the vehicle?

I would love to hear more about the camera views. Even in parking lots... Is there a 360 view that comes up when the vehicle is in reverse?

 

[DuckTruck]

Thank you all for the information you have been sharing.

A couple of questions, hopefully, they have not been asked previously (I suspect I missed some of the posts in this long thread):

• Has there been any talk, mention, or any of the drivers felt the use of torque vector steering? Since it is a quad-motor vehicle, I do suspect it is being used, particularly given the dynamics the vehicles are exhibiting in turns in the videos.
• During the uphill rock crawling session, I could not see if there were any 360 camera views of the vehicle, which would show the terrain in front even if the driver is only seeing the sky. Is that not part of the vehicle?

Thank you in advance.

Riventures,

To your second question first, the understanding I was left with is that 360⁰ View will be available, either at release, or shortly thereafter with an OTA update. To be clear, I don't remember seeing it during during either my ride-along with RJ, or my test drive with Brian. I think if it was available now, it would have been shown. Also, it may have been featured in the Engagement Center and I missed it while visiting with others.

On the subject of the 360⁰ View, RJ took the time to show us the vast array of cameras and other sensors on the R1T sitting behind us during the round table discussion. It is quite impressive and covers all angles (yeah, I know, Duh! 360⁰). At that same time, he explained how the rear-facing cameras on the back of the cab play a role in the security system for our gear in the bed, along with the locking cable that can be used to secure gear to the sidewall within the bed. He also weighed in on how those cameras and sensors will be a part of the Driver Assist feature.

Now to the really fun stuff! The quad-motors with torque vectoring makes this thing very secure, smooth, and stable. I was so pleased when I stomped on the Exhilarator Pedal, as I call it, and felt zero torque-steer, very little nose-rise, nothing more than the open hand of Andre the Giant shooting from the steering column and just burying me into the back of that beautiful seat (Rivian's, not mine). Total power hits instantly and you're rocketing silently down the straightaway with no twitchy side-to-side motion, no discernible slip from any of the tires, and none of the rocking motion that comes from even the smoothest of transmissions shifting gears. As we know, even the best of ICE transmissions and drivers can't stay at the peak of the torque curve from the moment you put the hammer down until you lift off. With Rivian, you live at that peak, if you choose to. Once you lift from the pedal, it lets whatever level of regen selected kick in smoothly (if you dialed up any at all).

That non-stop and consistent g-force pressure is not the norm, and it surprises you further by doing all of this so silently. A few of the birds that didn't hear us coming nearly pulled a Tesla-like test of the windshield's strength. While he may not admit it, I think I got Brian to flinch as two little guys elevated just in time to avoid becoming part of the windshield. I hope David's video captured that from the back seat. Not to worry, the thrill-seekers lived to tell their tale of their near-death experience tojcu

the flock, or covey, or whatever.

Then comes the tight 180-degree corners at each end of the track. Even with the All-Terrain tires, the torque vectoring and solid suspension makes it feel like you're riding on rails, even if you do get the softest of songs from the Pirelli Sisters. They are not singing a cover of "I can't drive 55", rather, it's a gentle four-part harmony to remind you that you're doing well more than double the posted speed recommendation of the current curve. That said, the steering remains very neutral, even with the All-Terrains. I felt no need to correct any input while in those turns because it was so neutral. No oversteer, no understeer. It just goes where you point it.....until you put it in Drift Mode. That's when the grin turns to Perma-Grin.

Another story for another post....maybe with some personal video....and I'm still wearing that damned grin....?

 

[electruck]

The quad-motors with torque vectoring makes this thing very secure, smooth, and stable. I was so pleased when I stomped on the Exhilarator Pedal, as I call it, and felt zero torque-steer, very little nose-rise, nothing more than the open hand of Andre the Giant shooting from the steering column and just burying me into the back of that beautiful seat (Rivian's, not mine). Total power hits instantly and you're rocketing silently down the straightaway with no twitchy side-to-side motion, no discernible slip from any of the tires, and none of the rocking motion that comes from even the smoothest of transmissions shifting gears.
...
Then comes the tight 180-degree corners at each end of the track. Even with the All-Terrain tires, the torque vectoring and solid suspension makes it feel like you're riding on rails, even if you do get the softest of songs from the Pirelli Sisters.
...
That said, the steering remains very neutral, even with the All-Terrains. I felt no need to correct any input while in those turns because it was so neutral. No oversteer, no understeer. It just goes where you point it.....until you put it in Drift Mode. That's when the grin turns to Perma-Grin.

Thanks for that great feedback @DuckTruck! That's the kind of driving feedback I've been hoping to hear. Sounds exactly like the experience I'm expecting from Rivian.

 

[IHScout]

@DuckTruck Was there anything mentioned about towing features? This is something that really interests me as it will become our primary tow rig for our travel trailer. Thanks.

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