Range extender for R1T in the future?

[iamnid]

I imagine cooling lines would also have to be set up as well as a way to wire it in to the existing electrical. Much more complicated than dropping it in the bed and connecting a plug.

Sponsored

 

[SwampNut]

Is that a crane in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

Why not both!!

 

[SwampNut]

I imagine cooling lines would also have to be set up as well as a way to wire it in to the existing electrical. Much more complicated than dropping it in the bed and connecting a plug.

Only if you really need to maximize the in/out rate, but not as secondary helper battery. As an example, there's a battery option for my Zero EV motorcycle, and it has no cooling. But it won't charge or discharge at the fastest rate. It's just a booster for the mail battery. It's trivial to just connect power and BMS when needed.

 

[sherold]

No. Concerning long range EV driving, the resources for EV charging technology and infrastructure are better spent on improving the battery tech/chemistry itself, charging tech, and reducing charging times.

I feel that additional battery packs (and weight) is a short-term grab to advertise longer range and sway buyers that are on the fence about getting into an EV but, have range anxiety. It could have potential long-term benefits if they sway "on-the-fence" ICE buyers but, that is the only advantage I see for a company to invest in a range extender system like this.

 

[Epicloop]

I believe it was estimated to weigh almost 2000 lbs based on the size of it, so it would require a SC visit and a forklift or crane to install, uninstall. Not very practical. Same criticism applies to the Cybertruck version that will probably never be made either...

There is zero chance the range extender would weigh anywhere near 2000lbs(equivalent to 165kwh) as that does not even leave enough payload for the driver.

so even if it were only 800-1000 pounds (to provide possibly an extra 100kwh)

I would think 30-45kwh(360-540lbs) would be a more practical size to allow for some remaing payload.
The spare tire or gear tunnel space in the R1T seems like a good place for it.

 

[COdogman]

There is zero chance the range extender would weigh anywhere near 2000lbs(equivalent to 165kwh) as that does not even leave enough payload for the driver.

I would think 30-45kwh(360-540lbs) woulx be a more practical size to allow for some remaing payload.
The spare tire or gear tunnel space in the R1T seems like a good place for it.

That's fine. It wasn't my math that arrived at that estimate. Let's generously say it weighs closer to 1000 lbs. Still not practical.

 

[Epicloop]

That's fine. It wasn't my math that arrived at that estimate. Let's generously say it weighs closer to 1000 lbs. Still not practical.

Well to be fair even 360-540lbs is not very practical for in/out use for vast majority of people.

 

[ElGuano]

I would think 30-45kwh(360-540lbs) would be a more practical size to allow for some remaing payload.
The spare tire or gear tunnel space in the R1T seems like a good place for it.

That sounds spot-on. The CT gets 320 miles out of 123kwh, so 2.6mi/kwh. They're advertising 400mi (+) for the range extender, so we're talking about an extra 80mi. That's ~30kwh more.

In addition to preserving some payload weight, you also need to add integrated cooling and structural support, so it'll absolutely be larger in volume than just adding more cells in the main pack would look like.

 

[COdogman]

Well to be fair even 360-540lbs is not very practical for in/out use for vast majority of people.

Agreed. I imagine once Rivian figured out that making it light enough to manage in a home garage would not provide much range, they scrapped the idea. Maybe someday battery tech will make this possible - I love the concept of it.

 

[emoore]

Agreed. I imagine once Rivian figured out that making it light enough to manage in a home garage would not provide much range, they scrapped the idea. Maybe someday battery tech will make this possible - I love the concept of it.

Agree. This will be great once battery technology gets much better kWh/lb. Right now it’s not very practical.

 

[zapp]

Imho an extra battery doesn't make sense, but until battery tech gets much better, I love the idea Scout is implementing with their gas powered "harvester" range extender. They have a very high take rate of this option and while this isn't most elegant solution for EV purists, it would help Rivian to address a larger market and to retain customers when the Scouts are available..

 

[emoore]

Imho an extra battery doesn't make sense, but until battery tech gets much better, I love the idea Scout is implementing with their gas powered "harvester" range extender. They have a very high take rate of this option and while this isn't most elegant solution for EV purists, it would help Rivian to address a larger market and to retain customers when the Scouts are available..

Nearly 0% chance Rivian makes an ICE range extender. Just not their business model.

 

[Jonger1150]

Imho an extra battery doesn't make sense, but until battery tech gets much better, I love the idea Scout is implementing with their gas powered "harvester" range extender. They have a very high take rate of this option and while this isn't most elegant solution for EV purists, it would help Rivian to address a larger market and to retain customers when the Scouts are available..

The problem with the Scout is that it's not 350 miles of EV + 150 mile ICE range extender. It's 150 miles of EV + 350 miles of ICE range extender.

It's a smaller battery. You're going to have another situation where most owners don't plug it in and they'll save virtually no carbon.

 

[zapp]

The problem with the Scout is that it's not 350 miles of EV + 150 mile ICE range extender. It's 150 miles of EV + 350 miles of ICE range extender.

It's a smaller battery. You're going to have another situation where most owners don't plug it in and they'll save virtually no carbon.

Yes that is the downside of that system, but did Scout already disclose the battery size or the battery/range-extender ratio of the Harvester version?
Would be a quite bad if they will just do 150 miles on the battery. That would just be sth like a 60-80kwh battery and looking at the size of the BMW i3 gas range-extender, the Harvester version should still have room for a bigger battery..

 

[zapp]

Nearly 0% chance Rivian makes an ICE range extender. Just not their business model.

As a customer and a shareholder, I really hope they are pragmatic and not religious about it.

It's pretty clear that the future is full EV, but the battery tech isn't fully there yet. If Rivian could procure the system from VW/Scout and if there is a demand for it.. why not? It's a huge benefit for towing, off-roading and long roadtrips. I don't think the R2 and R3 need it, but the R1 line should offer the gas range extender as an option.

Sponsored