If Rivian’s R1T is going to live up to its image of electric adventure trucks, it’s going to have to survive conditions that can make other EVs cry for mercy … and it can only do that. As Electrek note, the startup shared details and a video of winter tests in Baudette, Minnesota, where temperatures dropped to -40F – cold enough to pose a serious problem for many EV batteries. It would not surprise you to hear that the R1T passed the test (Rivian may not have posted it differently), but the dry run showed that the truck’s unique heating technology worked.
Instead of using dedicated heaters that further drain the battery, Rivian relies on a central cooling plate that uses relatively little energy to keep battery cells warm enough for ideal performance. It slows down the initial charge if you forget to switch on on an icy day (your charging rate will be reduced by half an hour in half), but your R1T should reach full performance within about 20 minutes.
The winter test also gave Rivian the chance to confirm that traction control algorithms worked properly in the winter, even in thick snow and on ice.
The details are clearly intended to sell prospective R1T buyers on the utility of the truck before its debut later in 2021. It is also important to emphasize that competitors are also improving. Tesla, for example, has installed heat pumps in recent cars (mainly Model Y and newer Model 3 units) to improve their work in cold conditions.
At the same time, the report illustrates how much EVs have improved in recent years – they are no longer just aimed at people in a mild climate where icy temperatures are scarce. It’s crucial if EVs are to enter the mainstream and appeal to everyone, even if early examples like the $ 75,000 R1T are beyond the reach of most people.