RJ interview on Munro Live: Discussing R2 / R3 Reveal

[DuoRivian]

Good video with RJ and Munro live talking about the R2 and the reveal event. Some good detail on battery choice and design/cost considerations. Also touches on why 400v rather than 800V.

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[KootenayEV]

He's pretty clear to say how R2 will share some key underlying electronics & power electronics with R1 after the line refresh when she probed about 800v. I found it hard to read between the lines though - my guess is no 800v because of his discussion around cost tied to the question.

He also implied pretty strongly that it is a new variant of the current Enduro motor, sharing similar architecture but iterating on it.

 

[DuoRivian]

He's pretty clear to say how R2 will share some key underlying electronics & power electronics with R1 after the line refresh when she probed about 800v. I found it hard to read between the lines though - my guess is no 800v because of his discussion around cost tied to the question.

He also implied pretty strongly that it is a new variant of the current Enduro motor, sharing similar architecture but iterating on it.

Yes, this kills the argument from those who thought the R1 would go to 800V.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Glad they covered design ethos of "inviting" and "friendly". Those who still maintain the design is "goofy", and are open minded enough, needs to hear it. And, "pausing" vs "halting", another case of people hearing what they are primed to hear and running wild with it.

He's pretty clear to say how R2 will share some key underlying electronics & power electronics with R1 after the line refresh when she probed about 800v. I found it hard to read between the lines though - my guess is no 800v because of his discussion around cost tied to the question.

He also implied pretty strongly that it is a new variant of the current Enduro motor, sharing similar architecture but iterating on it.

He supposedly talked about it in a different interview (I didn't watch it). It was a cost-based decision (in order to hit goal of $45k starting price), that it had to be 400V. Pending pack size, I don't think charging speed will be too bad. I thought charging my R1T would be a chore, before I got it. Now, with 25 minutes of internet browsing/reading, it's not a bother.

 

[usofrob]

He's pretty clear to say how R2 will share some key underlying electronics & power electronics with R1 after the line refresh when she probed about 800v. I found it hard to read between the lines though - my guess is no 800v because of his discussion around cost tied to the question.

He also implied pretty strongly that it is a new variant of the current Enduro motor, sharing similar architecture but iterating on it.

He really did thread the needle to not reveal 400V or 800V on the R2 and R1 refresh. She mentioned something about 800V when finishing that topic and he just nodded his head. So, that's a very slight indication it might be 800V. He really seemed to imply that they're going to get cost savings by sharing parts between R1 and R2. I wonder if the R1 quad will just be the same motors in the R2 Tri. And, I think having an 800V architecture would save on cabling. Something that was very important for the placement of the charge port. But maybe it was important on the charge port because it's 400V and a larger cable. :-/

 

[SANZC02]

I must have watched a different video as I clearly heard to save cost and share a lot with R 1 it was not going to 800 volts and that is something they will look at in the future.

Also interesting that they are staying with 12 volt for low voltage because without steer by wire the need was not there for 48 volt.

 

[Guy]

He really did thread the needle to not reveal 400V or 800V on the R2 and R1 refresh. She mentioned something about 800V when finishing that topic and he just nodded his head. So, that's a very slight indication it might be 800V. He really seemed to imply that they're going to get cost savings by sharing parts between R1 and R2. I wonder if the R1 quad will just be the same motors in the R2 Tri. And, I think having an 800V architecture would save on cabling. Something that was very important for the placement of the charge port. But maybe it was important on the charge port because it's 400V and a larger cable. :-/

It was pretty clear they are not going to 800V or he would have just said it. They are saving money and 800V seems to have been fetishized by some as a absolutely necessary step, it saves some time whe DC fast charging which is a very small minority of peoples annual charging experience. I would rather they saved the money for something else. Also any idea the R1 will get a heat pump have gone since the R2 doesn’t .

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

It was pretty clear they are not going to 800V or he would have just said it. They are saving money and 800V seems to have been fetishized by some as a absolutely necessary step, it saves some time whe DC fast charging which is a very small minority of peoples annual charging experience. I would rather they saved the money for something else. Also any idea the R1 will get a heat pump have gone since the R2 doesn’t .

And they'd save only 10-15 minutes at the most? Yah, it's not the killer must-have feature it's made up to be.

 

[usofrob]

It was pretty clear they are not going to 800V or he would have just said it. They are saving money and 800V seems to have been fetishized by some as a absolutely necessary step, it saves some time whe DC fast charging which is a very small minority of peoples annual charging experience. I would rather they saved the money for something else. Also any idea the R1 will get a heat pump have gone since the R2 doesn’t .

I don't think he would have just said it. He put it in the terms that they wanted to share the same as what's going into the R1 refresh. So, presuming that the R1 will be staying with 400V, then I think you're right, it's probably 400V for both.

 

[emoore]

Yep 400v for now. Maybe 800v when solid state batteries come along in 10-20 years.

 

[iansriv]

One of the best interviews I've seen. Love the concept of "inviting." Thanks for sharing.

 

[Guuma]

Great interview! RJ is just so passionate about this company and I find it infectious (in a good way). I'm also in the camp that it sounded like he was saying the R2 would be 400V, but would love to be surprised! I love how he can geek out on things like door design in an interview, but deliver it in a way that a normal person like me can understand.

 

[Lizardo]

Just watching now. He also spoke a bit about V2X as well.

 

[SeaGeo]

He really did thread the needle to not reveal 400V or 800V on the R2 and R1 refresh. She mentioned something about 800V when finishing that topic and he just nodded his head. So, that's a very slight indication it might be 800V. He really seemed to imply that they're going to get cost savings by sharing parts between R1 and R2. I wonder if the R1 quad will just be the same motors in the R2 Tri. And, I think having an 800V architecture would save on cabling. Something that was very important for the placement of the charge port. But maybe it was important on the charge port because it's 400V and a larger cable. :-/

Just assume Rivian is sticking with 400v until an 800v version shows up in your driveway.

 

[inconceivable]

My money is still on 800v _charging_ within a 400v architecture. In a sort of split pack configuration like Hummer EV and cybertruck.

Why? Partially because I think it’s strange that they wouldn’t just say it has 400v outright. Partially because I’m just hoping it to be true. And mostly because of this interview (~7:10) he dos with Jim Cramer where he was in front of an R1 and explicitly states that the vehicle charges to 80% in 25 minutes which is no where near true today and I can’t imagine how they’d get there in 400v charging.

But I may just be hearing what I want to hear.

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