R2 has no rear locker?

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Lockers, the old tech mechanical way of maintaining traction. First, majority of people don’t need it to negotiate Costco parking lots. Second, advanced traction control software and active management of power delivery at each axle and tire can adjust traction on the fly down to the millisecond. And electric motors have more torque on tap and can be modulated much faster than engines, transmissions and differentials. Certain situations locking differential is still king, but this is clearly not intended to be a hardcore rock crawler. It’s an everyday car.

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[SwampNut]

First, majority of people don’t need it to negotiate Costco parking lots.

I wish I could find the picture from when a major storm knocked down trees at the local mall, and I drove my Jeep over a few of them. Literally mall crawler.

If you understand lockers, you understand their few benefits and many limitations/problems, as well as the effort to use them properly. I think most people don't, and think they are nearly magic. At the same time, no "electronic locker" is the same thing either, and they have benefits, limitations, and problems. The vast majority of people are better off with the computer solution, not the mechanical locker. I've owned several vehicles with both.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

What's the difference between a "rear locker" and a "prison wallet?"

Seems like something I would only need if I joined the Navy

 

[DevonD]

I disagree with those saying Locking differentials are not needed but in the most extreme off-roading experiences. In the winter when snow is on the ground you want all wheels to be driving the vehicle not just 2. You want as much traction as possible. I remember years ago trying to pull my brother out of a snow bank he was stuck in. I was so disappointed that my 4X4 f150 was spinning one wheel in the back and one in the front. I even have a limited slip rear end that is a joke. I have been spinning wheels on ice many times where the limited slip seems to do nothing. So Snow falls in the city and there are many many use cases for locking differentials for those of us that live in the city and have to deal with snow and ice. I did not really expect the R2 to have locking differentials, but it would be nice. I did see an interview where someone was taken for a ride in the R2 and someone asked about the simulated locking differentials and the Rivian rep. said that they work about 80% as good as a real locking differential. I doubt that would be true, but it gave me hopes that it works pretty good.

But again, pulling someone out of a snow bank is a 0.01% use case. To drive around with your diff locked in the winter is actually quite dangerous. If you’re driving on snow and ice, it’s better to have one rear wheel spin while the other maintains traction than for both to spin. As soon as both rear wheels start spinning, the rear end will start moving and usually result in a spin. Modern trucks with locking rear diffs will unlock over 15-20mph for this reason.

I had a locking rear diff in my Lighting and didn’t use it once in 2 years in Canada. Don’t have a locking diff in my R1T and have never needed it despite some pretty technical off roading.

 

[Ralph]

I do wonder if the electronic locker on the R2 will be more similar in function to that found on Toyota Tacoma?

If so, it will address 90% of the situations where people might want them.

Very different that what is on the R1s.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I wish I could find the picture from when a major storm knocked down trees at the local mall, and I drove my Jeep over a few of them. Literally mall crawler.

If you understand lockers, you understand their few benefits and many limitations/problems, as well as the effort to use them properly. I think most people don't, and think they are nearly magic. At the same time, no "electronic locker" is the same thing either, and they have benefits, limitations, and problems. The vast majority of people are better off with the computer solution, not the mechanical locker. I've owned several vehicles with both.

I understand lockers just fine. And I understand it is just one of many ways to create traction, not the only way. Time has passed, and technology advanced. And R1s, without lockers, have pulled many others who were stuck in snow, sand, dirt and mud.

Repeating what I said, there are still situations where lockers are king, but that is a very small use case for a mass-market production car.

If not having one is a deal-breaker for anyone, they can shop elsewhere (good luck). The R2, like any other car, is just one choice among many. And no one is forcing anyone to choose it. It's a pointless argument.

 

[dleepnw]

They didn’t put lockers in the R1 so there was little to no expectation it would be in the R2. The quad motors were designed to provide power/torque at each wheel. In certain scenarios this is superior to lockers but in others mechanical lockers win. The R2 is not built as a true offroader so no one is really disappointed it doesn’t have 4 motors or lockers. That’d be overkill for their target market.

 

[savethemanual]

There will be aftermarket lifted R2’s out there with larger tires, can’t wait to see someone push the limits of its off road capabilities!

 

[CrazyOne]

With R2, Rivian needs simple and reliable design. Not add complexity and cater to niches.

They can do that later in special trims.

 

[NY_Rob]

If you "have to" have locking axles... just get a Jeep and you'll never use them!

We had 26" of snow over one day back in Feb, the roads were pretty bad right after the storm. I took the Jeep out to have a look around the neighborhood. Of course I had it in 4WD, and that was needed, but at no point did I have to lock the axles to get through. Point being.. unless you intend to go proper off-roading often, you don't "have to" have lockers.

 

[Glembi2]

I sometimes wonder whether videos of vehicles in off-road situations are judged by the existence of spinning wheels and not by what the vehicle is actually doing.

 

[DuoRivians]

Rivian didn’t have them on R1 for cost reasons. They’re certainly not going to have them on R2

 

[CANCERDOC]

Nonsense article. R1 does not have a rear locker (or any locker) and does just fine being the most off-road capable EV out of the factory. So why would the R2 have or need one? Ignore the hate and features that few would use. Rivian’s approach with the R2 into the mass market is the correct move to keep the company solvent.

 

[kenyee]

I thought it was an amusing article too.
The electric range rover also doesn't have lockers... Just tweaked hill descent and snow modes..
https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/land-rover/range-rover-electric-prototype/first-drive

 

[sparked]

With this whole RAD adventure division thing, isn't there a possibility of a spicy tri-motor R2 that has some extra tricks? Not necessarily what we are talking about here with lockers, but maybe other useful add-ons?

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