Update: Here's What We Know About the Rivian R1T So Far

author: Manish Kharinta   

Pickup trucks are one of the hottest commodities of the American automotive industry much like the electric car segment, which is fast becoming just as popular. Plymouth Michigan based electric adventure vehicle maker Rivian intends on offering the best of both worlds with its R1T electric pickup truck. With constant updates coming in, here is a comprehensive look into what we know about this upcoming vehicle so far.

Rivian is designing R1T to become fully autonomous at a later point in its life cycle and therefore the electric pickup truck gets driver aids like LiDAR, radar, GPS, ultrasonic sensors and cameras. Recently Rivian filed a patent for a "digital jerry can" auxiliary battery which plugs into the slots located at the forward area of the pickup truck's bed. This digital jerry can act as a auxiliary battery pack, which can be used to extend the range of the pickup truck when needed.

A patent illustration of Rivian's auxilary battery components.

The skateboard platform of R1T has been carefully sealed to allow the electric pickup truck to drive through up to three feet of water without any issues. R1T's intelligent battery management system learns a driver's behavior to optimize performance, storage, and efficiency which further improves the battery pack's life and range.

The R1T will get three battery pack options, including a 105 kWh pack for the base model, a 135 kWh pack for the mid-range and a 180 kWh pack for the top-of-the-line variant. When the R1T goes on sale, its 180 kWh battery pack might be the largest, most powerful battery pack available out of all electric vehicles on the market.

According to Rivian, the top-of-the-line model will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and have a 400 mile range. The electric powertrain can deliver a peak power output of 750 HP. The power is sent to an electric motor powering each wheel, giving the R1T an all-wheel-drive setup.

A look at the RT1's gear tunnel for storage.

When it comes to storage spaces, other than the conventional "frunk" forward compartment which we find across most EVs today, the R1T comes with an interior "gear tunnel", which is essentially a hollowed space that runs across the length of the truck and sits right behind the rear seats.

The R1T pickup will get a starting price tag of around $69,000 for the base model. The trcuk is eligible for a federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500. Rivian plans to launch the top of the line variant of R1T sometime in 2020, followed by the base model 6 months after.

Rivian has also confirmed that a long-range battery option will be offered starting at just under $90,000, but customers will have an option of ordering a long-range battery pack for all three trims, without having to purchase any mandatory upgrades.

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.