RJ Interviewed on Bloomberg Live

[aAlpine]

Bloomberg Live tweeted a few clips of an interview with RJ today:






I'm not sure if the whole interview is available somewhere, but there's a few interesting Rivian related bits in those short clips.

Full interview available here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/vide...-cto-straubel-amazon-on-new-ev-ventures-video - thanks @805Badger for finding it.

Sponsored

 

[jjwolf120]

I'm not sure if the whole interview is available somewhere, but there's a few interesting Rivian related bits in those short clips.

It's available, you can search for it.

 

[805Badger]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/vide...-cto-straubel-amazon-on-new-ev-ventures-video

 

[Coast2Coast]

RJ says towards the end of the Bloomberg interview that properly designed batteries will last longer than the vehicle. Or, in other words, vehicles will age faster than the batteries. He says the batteries will last "hundreds of thousands of miles and even a million miles if managed properly". Wow, given how rugged and robust the R1T/S appear to be, that's saying something.

In earlier threads, there was discussion about the rapid advance of battery tech might suggest first generation Rivian owners might want to upgrade their battery packs in relatively short order. RJ saying batteries will outlast the vehicles gives me some peace of mind on battery obsolescence.

 

[discsinthesky]

RJ says towards the end of the Bloomberg interview that properly designed batteries will last longer than the vehicle. Or, in other words, vehicles will age faster than the batteries. He says the batteries will last "hundreds of thousands of miles and even a million miles if managed properly". Wow, given how rugged and robust the R1T/S appear to be, that's saying something.

In earlier threads, there was discussion about the rapid advance of battery tech might suggest first generation Rivian owners might want to upgrade their battery packs in relatively short order. RJ saying batteries will outlast the vehicles gives me some peace of mind on battery obsolescence.

His comments got me thinking about what's preventing Rivian (or any other BEV manufacturer) from designing a vehicle where the rest of the vehicle can last as long as the battery? I know I'd be happier justifying such a large purchase if it can be amortized over more years/miles.

 

[skyote]

His comments got me thinking about what's preventing Rivian (or any other BEV manufacturer) from designing a vehicle where the rest of the vehicle can last as long as the battery? I know I'd be happier justifying such a large purchase if it can be amortized over more years/miles.

There's a lot of vehicles still on the road from 20+ years ago. Take care of it, and you can keep it as long as you wish.

 

[jjwolf120]

Take care of it, and you can keep it as long as you wish.

If by take care of it, you mean replace everything that wears out, you can keep going for quite some time. I had a Subaru for 22 years, but eventually my mechanic told me it wasn't worth the cost to fix it. By the end, the buttons were falling off the radio, the upholstery was worn and it needed a new engine. Evs have the advantage that electric motors usually last a lot longer than internal combustion engines, but there are many other components that will wear out.

 

[thrill]

His comments got me thinking about what's preventing Rivian (or any other BEV manufacturer) from designing a vehicle where the rest of the vehicle can last as long as the battery? I know I'd be happier justifying such a large purchase if it can be amortized over more years/miles.

I think in any modern vehicle it's more a matter of not getting new technologies, or beginning to see the limits of older technologies, as they age because of the cost tradeoff of engineering such tech to retrofit vice engineering it into a vehicle from the beginning which will bring more profit margin. I know several years ago I loved driving my Z4M on all trips, long or short.

 

[skyote]

I think in any modern vehicle it's more a matter of not getting new technologies, or beginning to see the limits of older technologies, as they age because of the cost tradeoff of engineering such tech to retrofit vice engineering it into a vehicle from the beginning which will bring more profit margin. I know several years ago I loved driving my Z4M on all trips, long or short.

Yep, this day & age it is more about keeping up with tech or wanting a new vehicle. Mechanical reliability used to be a major issue after ~10 years or so, but not as much anymore as long as you properly maintain...and that's ICE vehicles.

Interior can be another issue, as @jjwolf120 mentioned, but even that can normally be addressed. It becomes a matter of either desire for a new/different vehicle, or financially whether it's worth making needed investments in an older one.

 

[thrill]

For some reason, I cut short my previous post, meaning to write " I know several years ago I loved driving my Z4M on all trips, long or short, but I find the ergonomics of the vehicle really uncomfortable now for long trips, so people's priorities change too."

 

[Coast2Coast]

But with OTA updates, long lasting batteries (longer lasting than propulsion and suspension systems), couldn't the stuff that wears out - display screens, seats, tires and maybe air suspension parts - simply be replaced?

In other words, if the physical/mechanical stuff is replaced as needed, and the electronics stuff is upgraded within generational limitations, a Rivian might last for decades (my Volvo wagon still runs and it's four decades old, but it's not fast, safe or comfortable by modern standards.)

True, there's no substitute for wanting a new vehicle, but with a sensible, straightforward design, like the R1T and R1S, the mechanical, battery and electronic/computer system reasons for replacing a vehicle might be greatly attenuated.

 

[jjwolf120]

electronic/computer system

I think the electronic computer systems are doomed to obsolescence unless progress stops in that area. The only thing that could be done is to try and make replacing and upgrading simpler. We have computers that are 20 years old at work, but they can't run the current opperating systems or even connect to a new printer.

 

[discsinthesky]

True, there's no substitute for wanting a new vehicle, but with a sensible, straightforward design, like the R1T and R1S, the mechanical, battery and electronic/computer system reasons for replacing a vehicle might be greatly attenuated.

That's what I'm hoping.

 

[skyote]

I think the electronic computer systems are doomed to obsolescence unless progress stops in that area. The only thing that could be done is to try and make replacing and upgrading simpler. We have computers that are 20 years old at work, but they can't run the current opperating systems or even connect to a new printer.

I consider obsolescence to mean unusable, but these components should be able to serve the same functions for years. You might not be able to get latest & greatest features/functionality, but that doesn't mean the components or vehicles are unusable.

 

[DucRider]

I consider obsolescence to mean unusable, but these components should be able to serve the same functions for years. You might not be able to get latest & greatest features/functionality, but that doesn't mean the components or vehicles are unusable.

Usable is hard to define. One of our local members has a 1920 Milburn Light Electric he uses occasionally for parades and such. It still runs and drives, but "usable" might be a stretch as a daily driver.
There are plenty of examples of antique autos on the road, and if you really wanted to you could almost certainly keep the Rivian running for as long as you care to. At some point the $$ spent vs functionality comes into play, and that is what usually sends cars to "retirement".

Sponsored