Conserve mode on 2025 Tri-motor?

[FranknStein]

I am having a tough time deciding between the 2025 Dual motor + max pack or Tri-motor R1T. Once I spec them out, the difference acutally is only about $10k because the Tri-motor comes with many features I want. I'm a little confused about what the new Tri-motor model does in conserve mode. I do a lot of highway driving. My understanding is the dual motor models turn off the rear motor on the highway (without needing to be in a 'conserve' mode). Does the Tri-motor do the same thing? Do you have to put it into conserve mode to do that? What happens if you are in conserve mode and punch it? Do the rear motors automatically come back on? Do you have to manualy turn conserve mode back on after that? I've also heard that on Gen 1 models, the dual motor was significantly quieter than the quad motor unless you were in conserve mode.

I guess my confusion is that if the dual motor automatically turns off the rear motor on the highway, why wouldn't the trimotor do the same thing to both its rear motors? Then wouldn't the two models effectively have the same power (since they have the same front motor, right?). Why would it even need a conserve mode in that case.

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[Dark-Fx]

Rivian hasn't shared anything about how this functions yet, as far as I know. My hope is it means "All purpose" is obligate all wheel drive, and that "conserve" mode will act like dual motor all-purpose, where it automatically disengages the rear under specific circumstances.

I don't want to have to be in sport mode or reduced traction to have immediate access to most of the power.

 

[mpshizzle]

Not super confident in this answer, but I do seem to remember something from Kyle's 2 hour video of the gen 2 launch that said the new rear motor unit for Tri and Quad did feature an automatic clutch disconnect (theoretically that probably means All Purpose would function much like Dual)

I FOR sure remember them saying that Tri was within only a few miles range of Dual. This is because, as you were saying, when the rear motors are disengaged it's using the same unit as dual. So the real differentiating factors are .5 seconds faster 0 - 60 and the ascend Interior. If either or both of those things are worth $10,000 to you, I say go for it! If not, Dual is your best bet

 

[mpshizzle]

Rivian hasn't shared anything about how this functions yet, as far as I know. My hope is it means "All purpose" is obligate all wheel drive, and that "conserve" mode will act like dual motor all-purpose, where it automatically disengages the rear under specific circumstances.

I don't want to have to be in sport mode or reduced traction to have immediate access to most of the power.

Nobody has really commented on it yet, but supposedly the gen 2 clutch disconnects are much faster than they used to be. Supposedly the delay in power is much less pronounced

 

[FranknStein]

Not super confident in this answer, but I do seem to remember something from Kyle's 2 hour video of the gen 2 launch that said the new rear motor unit for Tri and Quad did feature an automatic clutch disconnect (theoretically that probably means All Purpose would function much like Dual)

I FOR sure remember them saying that Tri was within only a few miles range of Dual. This is because, as you were saying, when the rear motors are disengaged it's using the same unit as dual. So the real differentiating factors are .5 seconds faster 0 - 60 and the ascend Interior. If either or both of those things are worth $10,000 to you, I say go for it! If not, Dual is your best bet

0.5s faster if you spec the performance software upgrade on the dual motor (vs. 1.6s without the upgrade). Then the difference in price is only around $5k for me. You get the Ascend interior like you said, plus yellow accents and the option for the Storm Blue exterior paint, which I quite like. I think you also get the additional drive modes. That's why it almost seems silly to get the dual motor even though I want to maximize range.

 

[mpshizzle]

0.5s faster if you spec the performance software upgrade on the dual motor (vs. 1.6s without the upgrade). Then the difference in price is only around $5k for me. You get the Ascend interior like you said, plus yellow accents and the option for the Storm Blue exterior paint, which I quite like. I think you also get the additional drive modes. That's why it almost seems silly to get the dual motor even though I want to maximize range.

Just refreshed myself on specs - looks like 420 miles rated range for Dual Max, 405 for Tri in Conserve Mode, 380 in All Purpose. (For R1T, not sure if you're shopping T or S)

That being said, if Gen 1 Conserve mode is anything to go by, it's recommended to use that ONLY in emergencies. Riding long distances consistently in low drive height causes very uneaven tire wear.

So would the performance, color, interior, and extra drive modes be a worth while trade for the price and range cost?

Side note - from everything I've been hearing, don't ever count on getting the quoted range... Think like 2/3 of what they quote

 

[Mathme]

As others have said, technically from what we know of the Tri, we think Conserve functions similarly to the Dual. The additional .5 second isn't likely felt in real life. I'd think the question is more along the lines of: is the extra $10k worth the Ascend Interior, and the option for the Storm Blue to you?

 

[R1Tom]

The ability for the rear to torque vector properly would be enough of a benefit to me to spec the TM or QM...but I am into that kinda stuff and it seems most aren't.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Rivian hasn't shared anything about how this functions yet, as far as I know. My hope is it means "All purpose" is obligate all wheel drive, and that "conserve" mode will act like dual motor all-purpose, where it automatically disengages the rear under specific circumstances.

I don't want to have to be in sport mode or reduced traction to have immediate access to most of the power.

Agree, on the performance. Any issue with the dual motors in the rear and the disconnect mechanism? Would be dealing with two motors vs just one. I am guessing in AP the motors wouldn't do motor based torque vectoring?

I know Tesla chose a different route for their vehicles with the PM in the rear and then an induction unit in the front but their vehicles are all rear biased vs Rivian which prefer to use the front motors primarily. I wonder if Rivian considered using induction. Slightly lower efficiency but they can be turned on/off ....that's why Tesla likes them.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Riding long distances consistently in low drive height causes very uneaven tire wear.

For the record, On the QM you don’t have to be in low height. We use Conserve + Standard height for over 200 miles of highway driving most weekends and tire wear is even side to side and even front to back because we get them rotated regularly.

 

[beatle]

Rivian hasn't shared anything about how this functions yet, as far as I know. My hope is it means "All purpose" is obligate all wheel drive, and that "conserve" mode will act like dual motor all-purpose, where it automatically disengages the rear under specific circumstances.

I don't want to have to be in sport mode or reduced traction to have immediate access to most of the power.

Agreed, had I known that I had to leave the truck in sport mode (and that it automatically reverts back to all-purpose after a long sleep) I don't think I would have sought out the performance version. As it stands, it's a hassle to actually use the advertised power offered by the performance trim, and I'd expect the tri-motor to have the same configuration-induced problem.

 

[CANCERDOC]

Agreed, had I known that I had to leave the truck in sport mode (and that it automatically reverts back to all-purpose after a long sleep) I don't think I would have sought out the performance version. As it stands, it's a hassle to actually use the advertised power offered by the performance trim, and I'd expect the tri-motor to have the same configuration-induced problem.

This. I have the PDM and its nice to quote 0-60 times etc, but in the real world, All Purpose is plenty fast and I prefer the ride quality of standard height, which you cannot do in Sport mode. If anything, perhaps this is the advantage of the Tri-motor, if you can use that extra power in all purpose mode, and get max power in sport, just like the PDM. About the only time I've used Sport is just to show off when driving people around, but its not practical in the real world, where all purpose is more than quick enough and the automatic AWD gives you all four wheel traction whenever you need it, without even thinking about it. This is a much better option than locking out an axle with a dedicated conserve mode. I do wish Rivian made the rear drive unit the main unit though, to give us RWD dynamics even in conserve mode.

 

[mpshizzle]

I just re-watched the section of kyle's 2 hour feature length film where he was talking to an engineer about drivetrain stuff. When Kyle wasn't busy talking at him the engineer did mention specifically that now in conserve and all purpose the rear clutch would now automatically connect if you push hard enough on Tri/Quad

 

[FranknStein]

I just re-watched the section of kyle's 2 hour feature length film where he was talking to an engineer about drivetrain stuff. When Kyle wasn't busy talking at him the engineer did mention specifically that now in conserve and all purpose the rear clutch would now automatically connect if you push hard enough on Tri/Quad

Would it then go back into front wheel drive only mode once you are driving steady then? If it engages/disengages quickly, it seems that would be ideal for highway driving. I don't really understand why the front tires would wear so quickly if you're just riding steady on the highway in conserve mode. How is this different from any other heavy FWD car (or the dual motor model which apparently does this anyway?).

 

[mpshizzle]

Would it then go back into front wheel drive only mode once you are driving steady then? If it engages/disengages quickly, it seems that would be ideal for highway driving.

This is exactly how the dual motor system works. The way he was talking made it sound like it works just the same way. Quick clarification though. Sport mode will likely still be required to get FULL power. You'll get more power when you step on it and the clutch engages. But not 100% like in sport mode.

I don't really understand why the front tires would wear so quickly if you're just riding steady on the highway in conserve mode. How is this different from any other heavy FWD car (or the dual motor model which apparently does this anyway?).

It's not the front wheel drive that chews up tires. It's being in lowest suspension when in conserve. The tires don't sit flat on the ground in low suspension. They have a very slight tilt to the side so the tire is riding a bit on the edge of the tread. That is the big factor

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