Low regen in snow mode still way too much.

[broc]

I was excited for the snow mode update and the low regen setting. Totally made sense. The more I drive on compact snow in my area (Snoqualmie Pass, WA), the more I think the regen is still way to high. When on snow and ice it should really be like an auto transmission amount of minimal engine braking. Making turns while letting off the gas even slightly breaks traction on the front wheels unnecessarily. I know you could theoretically let of the gas just the perfect amount to make a turn effectively with total control, but compared to coasting around a turn in an auto or pushing the clutch in on a manual and feathering the brakes if needed, the Rivian is WAY worse. I'd love an ice mode with little to no regen! BTW, I have the 20" AT's which otherwise seem OK on the snow minus the regen deal.

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[jjswan33]

I’d have to disagree. I have spent significant time in the snow, both snow mode and not and only had it slide once (before snow mode) and it was only at a couple mph as I was coming to a stop. The biggest benefit of the snow mode so far IMO has been the throttle response, before snow mode if you hit the gas the rear end would slide out that the lower throttle response solved in my case.

Do you feel you are actually sliding around the corners or just your comfort level?

 

[Thedude]

What tires do you have? On the 20” ATs I can’t make it break free just with regen when in snow mode, even on straight ice.

Nevermind, missed when you said 20” in your post somehow. You can get no regen if you push the pedal just a little bit.

 

[Riviot]

Hard disagree, having done Snoqualmie Pass last Sunday in the snow storm. It handled great, you just need to treat it like a 7000lb monster and not a 2WD Honda Civic. Slow down before the turns, accelerate through them. A little tail slide is okay, keep your nose pulling you forward. Think of it like a horse drawn carriage; you don't want that cart smacking them in the rear, let them pull it through the turn.

At least that's how my pea-brain works ?

 

[AxelR]

Manual car: You should not “push” on the clutch when taking a turn (freewheeling). You should downshift and slow down using your brakes in a straight line before the turn.
I hate to say this but only in the US have I ever seen stick shift drivers do this.

 

[broc]

Interesting. My snow mode regen honestly doesn't feel that different than normal regen in all purpose. Slower throttle response is definitely noticeable though. I'm really talking about fairly low speed turns on really slick compact snow and ice. Surface street/neighborhood/driveway stuff, not braking, MT downshifting, powering out of corners stuff. I've driven in snow most of my life and done a fair amount of track time in a vintage 911 so I get how to corner (despite being from the US). This is my first EV ,It's heavy and the tires aren't the best on ice which obviously contributes. Maybe I'm alone on this but I'd rather have two pedals to work with rather than one when things are super slippery. One pedal driving is interesting and usually convenient but I don't really love the feel of it on ice and wish it was toned down even more.`

 

[Dark-Fx]

Why are you trail braking on slick roads? 3 Peak tire ratings are all about straight line performance and not lateral grip. If you are sliding at speed you are just plain driving too fast for conditions.

 

[DB-EV]

I was excited for the snow mode update and the low regen setting. Totally made sense. The more I drive on compact snow in my area (Snoqualmie Pass, WA), the more I think the regen is still way to high. When on snow and ice it should really be like an auto transmission amount of minimal engine braking. Making turns while letting off the gas even slightly breaks traction on the front wheels unnecessarily. I know you could theoretically let of the gas just the perfect amount to make a turn effectively with total control, but compared to coasting around a turn in an auto or pushing the clutch in on a manual and feathering the brakes if needed, the Rivian is WAY worse. I'd love an ice mode with little to no regen! BTW, I have the 20" AT's which otherwise seem OK on the snow minus the regen deal.

Because there was a chance of delivery before snow tires I bought blizzard LT and they came about same time as car. Have maybe 600 miles of snow or ice driving and hardly any lost grip. Yes it is more money but in snow mode with snow tires while I am careful I have complete confidence. I actually have to focus not the fact I am in bad conditions. Of course, this is east coast so I am sure Stephens pass is another animal.

 

[DB-EV]

Because there was a chance of delivery before snow tires I bought blizzard LT and they came about same time as car. Have maybe 600 miles of snow or ice driving and hardly any lost grip. Yes it is more money but in snow mode with snow tires while I am careful I have complete confidence. I actually have to focus not the fact I am in bad conditions. Of course, this is east coast so I am sure Stephens pass is another animal.

Sorry chance of delivery before snow mode

 

[SSteveEV]

... Maybe I'm alone on this but I'd rather have two pedals to work with rather than one when things are super slippery. One pedal driving is interesting and usually convenient but I don't really love the feel of it on ice and wish it was toned down even more.`

You're not alone here, I agree I'd like one pedal driving to be optional. When snow mode (yay!) was first introduced I enabled it and felt the Regen and rolled my eyes because there wasn't an off and it didn't feel terribly different. That said, I've been impressed so far but haven't had to cope with any serious hills and have had trouble breaking traction on AT 20's during testing.

I'd be really curious to know what fraction the high, mid, low Regen actually is if high is 100.

 

[AxelR]

Interesting. My snow mode regen honestly doesn't feel that different than normal regen in all purpose. Slower throttle response is definitely noticeable though. I'm really talking about fairly low speed turns on really slick compact snow and ice. Surface street/neighborhood/driveway stuff, not braking, MT downshifting, powering out of corners stuff. I've driven in snow most of my life and done a fair amount of track time in a vintage 911 so I get how to corner (despite being from the US). This is my first EV ,It's heavy and the tires aren't the best on ice which obviously contributes. Maybe I'm alone on this but I'd rather have two pedals to work with rather than one when things are super slippery. One pedal driving is interesting and usually convenient but I don't really love the feel of it on ice and wish it was toned down even more.`

I knew you were going to pull the 911 card.
A lot of us on this forum can ? That being said a 911 or track time are just signs of wealth not of talent or understanding physics or mechanics.

However I’m not disagreeing that some might have an easier time with no regen on ice.
I believe Mercedes and Kia (?) have a system (paddles I believe) that enable the driver to select the amount of regen on the fly. That could be an interesting solution for Rivian to explore.

 

[COdogman]

I think driving a heavy EV on the ice/ snow with regen braking is just going to be a different experience than many of us are used to. That said, I plan to start from step 1 and try to forget most of what I know about driving in those conditions for 35 years in ICE vehicles.

Snow mode sounds like it really helped quite a bit, but I do suspect the Pirelli ATs are not the best in slippery conditions. So if you are still having trouble you might get a set of snow tires or switch to ATs that handle better on ice.

I don’t see a reason Rivian couldn’t also allow people to turn off regen entirely if it makes them more comfortable. Maybe they only offer that option when the truck is in snow mode if they don’t want people permanently turning it off.

 

[broc]

Agreed that trail braking on ice is a bad idea. That's the problem. With substantial regen, any lift on the throttle induces braking. If the turn has started at that point, you're trail braking. That's what I don't like. Again, I'm not talking about cooking corners too fast on ice or proper performance driving. I'm talking about a downhill driveway with a turn at the end and a steep, curvy neighborhood. I'm going to take my foot off the gas mid corner at times going downhill, and the front end is going to push in situations that it wouldn't without all the regen. Again, I'm talking low speed. I'll get used to it but wish I could opt to control those big, beautiful brembos just a little bit. These are unique driving conditions that I'm talking about but I just feel that the way the software is set up makes the truck drive with less confidence than it could. The Rivian blows away my 200 series Land Cruiser in all areas I can think of (reliability TBD) except this one. I just don't think it needs to be this way. Maybe I'm campaigning for another drive mode so if you like your regen, you can keep your regen.

 

[Deleted member 7086]

Having now spent a winter with my R1T and record snowfall I have the following comments. First, snow mode is a significant improvement. However, regen and ice do not play well together. Where I live you can get two feet of snow overnight, the sun comes out, the snowy roads melt and by 5:00 pm the roads are a frozen solid sheet of ice. An option to turn off regen would be helpful. Second, even with 20” AT tires, in comparison to the number of other 4x4’s I have owned over the years, the R1T performs quite well in the harsh winter conditions. It does present a different set of driving challenges because of the R1T’s significant weight and computerized drive systems in comparison to an ICE’s mechanical approach but all in all it’s performance has been rather admirable.

 

[broc]

AxelR,

Really? Saying US drivers don't know how to drive MT cars and then accusing me of flaunting wealth and driving ability just because I was trying to defend I that understand proper driving techniques. You knew I'd "pull the 911 card?" Do I know you? BTW, I paid $7K for my 911 back in the day. You are the one that that has made it known that you own a stable of very expensive new cars in your bio.

Just think the Rivian could drive better on ice......Wow!

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