2026 Gen 2 R1S battery capacity drop due to cold - what’s normal?

[hmw]

I have a Gen2 R1S standard with the 92.5 kWh LFP battery. I know the particular battery is susceptible to cold temps. Right now it’s been 8 ~ 12F for a couple of days and I see the battery capacity is a mere 65 kWh according to the roamer dashboard (it’s charged to 100% of course).

Is a 30% drop normal? Does it go even lower ?

Would the capacity bounce back when driving ?

Anyone with the G2 LFP having endured with really cold weather conditions - would appreciate if you can share observations and experiences

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[Rivian Roamer]

Very normal. If you hover on the capacity it should give you this tooltip.

My R1T Tri Max got between 143 kWh and 131 kWh in the winter.

 

[1stPlace]

@hmw Schedule climate for the morning departure in your app and make sure it is set to pull energy from the wall charger if needed. Increase the % charge limit in the morning if you have to, because once the Rivian starts pulling from the wall during scheduled climate, it heats the battery up to a temperature optimal for range, and you should have a more accurate energy storage calculation. You will likely still drop 30% range when all other things are considered in this current weather, however.

 

[Rivian Roamer]

@hmw Schedule climate for the morning departure in your app and make sure it is set to pull energy from the wall charger if needed. Increase the % charge limit in the morning if you have to, because once the Rivian starts pulling from the wall during scheduled climate, it heats the battery up to a temperature optimal for range, and you should have a more accurate energy storage calculation. You will likely still drop 30% range when all other things are considered in this current weather, however.

Two things going on here.

1. Battery capacity: this is different than your effective efficiency. Rivian sets aside some of the battery capacity for thermal management when it's cold out. There's only so much you can do about this.
2. Effective efficiency: you're right, preconditioning the battery will help but often the amount of energy you put into doing this really isn't worth it unless you have cheap electricity, you'll take more energy to use less energy while driving. Better to just drive.

 

[1stPlace]

you'll take more energy to use less energy while driving. Better to just drive.

Absolutely correct, unless you are concerned about your total range for the day. I should have stated that.

 

[RivianRocks25]

Normal. Lfp is a bit more cold sensitive then NMC but they all get the range back when warm up. Heck, my '23 MNC that is normally 130kwh, is down to 111. But is has been -2 to -39 deg out for 3 days and we haven't left home in the Rivian. Know it will bounce back up to 130 once battery is warm. Oh, and I'm at 55% charge because it is hard on batteries to sit at 100% unused. Your LFP care less than mine but still care.

 

[tmbm50]

@hmw Schedule climate for the morning departure in your app and make sure it is set to pull energy from the wall charger if needed. Increase the % charge limit in the morning if you have to, because once the Rivian starts pulling from the wall during scheduled climate, it heats the battery up to a temperature optimal for range, and you should have a more accurate energy storage calculation. You will likely still drop 30% range when all other things are considered in this current weather, however.

I'm not sure thats true for Gen2. I read the same, tested on my Gen 2, and the battery never warmed. Several threads here and on reddit say Gen2 does not warm battery like gen1.

Its a big issue for folks like me coming from a Tesla where we can warm the battery to get near normal range for a long commute.

If I'm wrong, I'd love to figure out how to get the battery warm.

 

[Rivian Roamer]

I'm not sure thats true for Gen2. I read the same, tested on my Gen 2, and the battery never warmed. Several threads here and on reddit say Gen2 does not warm battery like gen1.

Its a big issue for folks like me coming from a Tesla where we can warm the battery to get near normal range for a long commute.

If I'm wrong, I'd love to figure out how to get the battery warm.

It does, but it's very minimal and takes a long time.

Are you trying to make your drive more efficient or extend your range?

 

[tmbm50]

It does, but it's very minimal and takes a long time.

Are you trying to make your drive more efficient or extend your range?

An hour, pre-conditioning in my unheated garage, made a 3 degree change in the battery temp on the gauges. I assumed that was just normal variance.

I'm trying to extend my range. In my tesla, I could preheat and get near summer range and make it all the way on what the Tesla said was 300mi range charged to 85%, without any issue or thought.

Now I have to stop and supercharge with an R1T Quad in conserve mode for a 113mi trip. Quite disappointing. Perhaps if I drive at 60mph etc I could eek it out, but why buy the latest and greatest EV and have to work around it's limitation or live with 1/3 the rated range. I'm not new to EVs in the winter but come on.

I've heard they use the wheel motors for the preheat and if I had to guess, that's either not as efficient or the engineers decided heating up those non-moving wheel motors to heat the battery had longevity issues.

I don't know, but its been a black eye for me to what should have been a simple resistive pre-heating circuit.

 

[bfilippo]

An hour, pre-conditioning in my unheated garage, made a 3 degree change in the battery temp on the gauges. I assumed that was just normal variance.

I'm trying to extend my range. In my tesla, I could preheat and get near summer range and make it all the way on what the Tesla said was 300mi range charged to 85%, without any issue or thought.

Now I have to stop and supercharge with an R1T Quad in conserve mode for a 113mi trip. Quite disappointing. Perhaps if I drive at 60mph etc I could eek it out, but why buy the latest and greatest EV and have to work around it's limitation or live with 1/3 the rated range. I'm not new to EVs in the winter but come on.

I've heard they use the wheel motors for the preheat and if I had to guess, that's either not as efficient or the engineers decided heating up those non-moving wheel motors to heat the battery had longevity issues.

I don't know, but its been a black eye for me to what should have been a simple resistive pre-heating circuit.

Hmm, I do not see nearly as much variance. We had a 2023 MYLR and it took a massive hit in sub freezing temps, even with the pre-heating. Of course, there’s a basic enormous aero difference between a Y and a Rivian, as well, but my Tri shows 315mi on conserve at 96% while sitting outside in a snowstorm and subzero temps for the last few nights.

I don’t think you’re getting normal behavior. I drove my Tri from the Hudson SC to my house (234mi) and arrived home with 22% remaining a few weeks ago in 35F weather. I also have the 20” AT’s, so it’s not as efficient as 22”.

 

[Rivian Roamer]

An hour, pre-conditioning in my unheated garage, made a 3 degree change in the battery temp on the gauges. I assumed that was just normal variance.

I'm trying to extend my range. In my tesla, I could preheat and get near summer range and make it all the way on what the Tesla said was 300mi range charged to 85%, without any issue or thought.

Now I have to stop and supercharge with an R1T Quad in conserve mode for a 113mi trip. Quite disappointing. Perhaps if I drive at 60mph etc I could eek it out, but why buy the latest and greatest EV and have to work around it's limitation or live with 1/3 the rated range. I'm not new to EVs in the winter but come on.

I've heard they use the wheel motors for the preheat and if I had to guess, that's either not as efficient or the engineers decided heating up those non-moving wheel motors to heat the battery had longevity issues.

I don't know, but its been a black eye for me to what should have been a simple resistive pre-heating circuit.

You can't do it from the app but in the vehicle you can precondition the battery. It's meant for charging but it should work for your needs.

 

[tmbm50]

Hmmm, well not sure if its normal. The truck is new so it could be an issue but otherwise drives great. One data point is I a did short 45min one-way trip today, and it averaged 1.3miles per kw according to the energy screen. I do have the 22" wheels on the OEM Pirelli's.

I'm coming from Model X 100.

You can't do it from the app but in the vehicle you can precondition the battery. It's meant for charging but it should work for your needs.

I will try that, as I've seen others suggest it but others saying that doesn't work if your not moving, so I haven't tried it yet.. But to my original reply, setting the "schedule climate and pull from charger" in the app doesn't seem to preheat the battery.

 

[Rivian Roamer]

I will try that, as I've seen others suggest it but others saying that doesn't work if your not moving, so I haven't tried it yet.. But to my original reply, setting the "schedule climate and pull from charger" in the app doesn't seem to preheat the battery.

It does, it just take a crap ton of energy to heat such a large thermal mass and Gen 2 just doesn't have a lot of thermal capacity to actually do that. This was evidenced by not having full regen until I am 30 minutes into a drive.

The HVAC system in Gen 2 is quite weak, I assume in the name of efficiency. Sadly, it can't deal with high charging and colder climates as well.

 

[ndmiller]

Unless I am mistaken, capacity doesn't drop, efficiency in charging/discharging drops. Prewarm the car before you leave the house and it'll be fine.

 

[Rivian Roamer]

Unless I am mistaken, capacity doesn't drop, efficiency in charging/discharging drops. Prewarm the car before you leave the house and it'll be fine.

net capacity does drop, but pre warming with make a big difference.

my Tri Max swings from 143 in the summer down to 131 kWh in the winter

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