RJ Interview from 2018 - Pre-Reveal

[SeaGeo]

I feel the same way, but don't think 300 miles will happen at highway speeds. I think I'd be fine with about 225 miles from a full charge (3 hours of driving), then a 20-30 min stop every couple hours thereafter.

Unless Rivian is intentionally missing not covering the U.S. with their interstate RAN spacing, you won't be able to drive the interstate using just ran if it's 225 for the full pack. Sioux falls to Fargo is 250 miles, and Miles City to Dickinson is 174 miles. Sioux Falls to Omaha is 180. I could see ~200 to 225 from 80% of the charge (250 highway full pack equivalent). Even looking at 70mph constant speed insideEVs tests, the most anyone undershoots the combined EPA range is about 12% (ahem Tesla and Chevy). Maybe it'll the hit will be a bit more being a truck, but a full pack equivalent of 225 at highway would be a 25% hit from a 300 mile equivalent combined. That just seems like a super conservative estimate with a performance expectations that just doesn't make sense to me given Rivian's branding. Just my two cents.

That being said, depending on State speed limits, maybe it is just 225. At 80mph, I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see it lower (I have WA 70 mph in my head). I already gave them grief that the spacing won't work in the upper midwest as is due to wind and shit weather. lol.

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[crashmtb]

Unless Rivian is intentionally missing not covering the U.S. with their interstate RAN spacing, you won't be able to drive the interstate using just ran if it's 225 for the full pack. Sioux falls to Fargo is 250 miles, and Miles City to Dickinson is 174 miles. Sioux Falls to Omaha is 180. I could see ~200 to 225 from 80% of the charge (250 highway full pack equivalent). Even looking at 70mph constant speed insideEVs tests, the most anyone undershoots the combined EPA range is about 12% (ahem Tesla and Chevy). Maybe it'll the hit will be a bit more being a truck, but a full pack equivalent of 225 at highway would be a 25% hit from a 300 mile equivalent combined. That just seems like a super conservative estimate with a performance expectations that just doesn't make sense to me given Rivian's branding. Just my two cents.

That being said, depending on State speed limits, maybe it is just 225. At 80mph, I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see it lower (I have WA 70 mph in my head). I already gave them grief that the spacing won't work in the upper midwest as is due to wind and shit weather. lol.

RAN spacing in the Dakotas?
Laughs in Manitoban

 

[SeaGeo]

RAN spacing in the Dakotas?
Laughs in Manitoban

To be fair, there isn't even a RAN plot in Manitoba. Really, the point is that I'm hoping they haven't spaced RAN out along the interstates such that you can't readily drive along that route and charge. The upper midwest just happens to have the largest gaps, and isn't currently serviced by EA so there the excuse of "oh, well you can jump between EA and RAN".

That being said, other than a random day that's not windy in the warmer months , I'd bet that someone in Fargo won't be able to make it to SIoux Falls in one shot along the interstate. So they'll have to go over to Minnesota and add another ~60+ miles to the drive with some 40 and 50 kw CCS chargers that are along some random MN highways. So a 3.5 hour drive would be like 6.5 hours with the charging. That's one of two extremes for RAN in the US though. Otherwise they max spacing seems to be about 180 miles. 180 just feels *really* tight for 225 at 70mph when the speed limit in the more rural parts of the Country is 80.

Which is why I noted it depends on what @skyote was thinking for speed with his 225 target. If it's 225 miles for a full pack at 70 mph then good luck crossing large chunks of the U.S. going the speed limit along the interstates. If it's 225 at 80, then that seems much more reasonable.

 

[crashmtb]

To be fair, there isn't even a RAN plot in Manitoba. Really, the point is that I'm hoping they haven't spaced RAN out along the interstates such that you can't readily drive along that route and charge. The upper midwest just happens to have the largest gaps, and isn't currently serviced by EA so there the excuse of "oh, well you can jump between EA and RAN".

That being said, other than a random day that's not windy in the warmer months , I'd bet that someone in Fargo won't be able to make it to SIoux Falls in one shot along the interstate. So they'll have to go over to Minnesota and add another ~60+ miles to the drive with some 40 and 50 kw CCS chargers that are along some random MN highways. So a 3.5 hour drive would be like 6.5 hours with the charging. That's one of two extremes for RAN in the US though. Otherwise they max spacing seems to be about 180 miles. 180 just feels *really* tight for 225 at 70mph when the speed limit in the more rural parts of the Country is 80.

Which is why I noted it depends on what @skyote was thinking for speed with his 225 target. If it's 225 miles for a full pack at 70 mph then good luck crossing large chunks of the U.S. going the speed limit along the interstates. If it's 225 at 80, then that seems much more reasonable.

How the hell am I going to get to wall drug for my free ice water?!

 

[SeaGeo]

How the hell am I going to get to wall drug for my free ice water?!

Currently you can't. Don't forget the 5 cent coffee.

 

[SeaGeo]

Thanks for posting this @bajadahl. Very cool to see RJ speak at length.

 

[skyote]

You are braver than I ?, that would only give you ~5% soc when you arrive at each charger.

I like to live dangerously. I also drink copious amounts of water & try to challenge my bladder.

Still, my main point is similar to @kanundrum in that shorter legs with shorter charging stops would be my goal.

Unless Rivian is intentionally missing not covering the U.S. with their interstate RAN spacing, you won't be able to drive the interstate using just ran if it's 225 for the full pack. Sioux falls to Fargo is 250 miles, and Miles City to Dickinson is 174 miles. Sioux Falls to Omaha is 180. I could see ~200 to 225 from 80% of the charge (250 highway full pack equivalent). Even looking at 70mph constant speed insideEVs tests, the most anyone undershoots the combined EPA range is about 12% (ahem Tesla and Chevy). Maybe it'll the hit will be a bit more being a truck, but a full pack equivalent of 225 at highway would be a 25% hit from a 300 mile equivalent combined. That just seems like a super conservative estimate with a performance expectations that just doesn't make sense to me given Rivian's branding. Just my two cents.

That being said, depending on State speed limits, maybe it is just 225. At 80mph, I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see it lower (I have WA 70 mph in my head). I already gave them grief that the spacing won't work in the upper midwest as is due to wind and shit weather. lol.

I don't think RAN only will ever be practical for many longer routes. I'm perfectly happy using any available high speed DCFC (and lower when necessary) AND paying gas-like prices for when I travel. That will mean a combination of several companies in addition to RAN, and maybe even Tesla superchargers someday.

Many spots are sufficiently covered, but there are places where zero companies have sufficient coverage. I will confidently say that will be very different in 3-5 years. Further, the Ford F-150 Lightning & towing use cases could be a big driver for this (slight pun intended).

 

[SeaGeo]

I like to live dangerously. I also drink copious amounts of water & try to challenge my bladder.

Still, my main point is similar to @kanundrum in that shorter legs with shorter charging stops would be my goal.



I don't think RAN only will ever be practical for many longer routes. I'm perfectly happy using any available high speed DCFC (and lower when necessary) AND paying gas-like prices for when I travel. That will mean a combination of several companies in addition to RAN, and maybe even Tesla superchargers someday.

Many spots are sufficiently covered, but there are places where zero companies have sufficient coverage. I will confidently say that will be very different in 3-5 years. Further, the Ford F-150 Lightning & towing use cases could be a big driver for this (slight pun intended).

Generally agree. I just don't see why they would go through the effort of covering an area of interstate that isn't covered by other companies right now if they don't think that coverage is sufficient. So that seems like a reasonable guess to back out a minimum range estimate.

And yes, I agree, semi frequent stops aren't a bad thing.

 

[Mjhirsch78]

AND paying gas-like prices for when I travel.

This is something that seems forgotten or not talked about as much. When electric cars become more common, electricity costs at chargers will likely go up. Long term, it feels like our savings will come from the 80-90% of charging that comes from home for the vast majority of people.

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