Snow Mode fail - costly result

[Bullwinkle]

I wonder if trailer mode turns off the regen????

Good question

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[godfodder0901]

I wonder if trailer mode turns off the regen????

Good question

It does not.

 

[Zorg]

I live in the mountains. We have a R1T with Toyo AT tires. With snow mode in, I found that Regen is well calibrated to bring the truck to a stop without locking the tires. I avoid braking as tires lock up and truck slides.

 

[phaduman]

A feature in Rivian could be (like the Coach feature in Garmin watches for training):

* if temp in a low range and tires detect slippage and cameras/sensors also detect snow/rain etc.
* the driver screen overlays a "coach" mode how to drive - safe speed range, regen setting change suggestion, height change suggestion etc also when/if to apply brakes...

Many are new to driving in low traction situations, and many others come from ICE world and Rivian taking charge here as an Adventure branded company - to help navigate the 7K lb EV during difficult situations - would be great. I would even say that Quad 0-60 improvements should be lower priority than saving lives & property in low-traction environment. This will translate well when R2 comes about and many more drivers will want to use the "adventure" EV. It would also help differentiate Rivian more compared to others in the crowded mid-size cross-over EV space.

 

[Spork8]

New Rivian, driver here, why would traction control off be better in snow /ice?
Thanks!

You want to be in control of wheel rotation rather than the vehicle in most cases with snow/ice. Losing traction and trying to control the vehicle with the vehicle trying to stop motion can be counterintuitive. It is much different than losing traction on pavement or dirt/gravel because you'll quickly get to a higher friction surface sooner.

With Rivian not having a zero regen option, you are hit with a double whammy if your instinct is to let go of all controls and try to just steer (never good in snow, regardless of vehicle make). The vehicle will apply braking via regen or regen+blended braking and if it detects a loss of traction then it will attempt to control wheel rotation to make corrections. With being on snow/ice, this could cause wheels to lock up.

With past ICE vehicles, if I ever had ABS kick in while braking, I would let go of braking and start accelerating into the skid or resort to pumping the brakes. ABS is great for pavement.

 

[bbonkk]

Good question

Guess not.

 

[White Rock Rivian]

I'm disappointed to hear that the all-terrain Pirreli's are not great in the snow, despite being 3 peak mountain snowflake rated. I just got them, and am having them installed on Friday.

Oh well - they'll look a lot cooler than the 22 inch range wheels for three seasons, and will do in a pinch.

Looks like I'm gonna be swapping to winter wheel/tire combo to drive up to the mountains.

I hope they fix this issue of not being able to complete turn off regen in snow mode in the next update. That seems really dangerous to not be able to coast to a stop in icy conditions without the brakes kicking in.

 

[ARGi]

I am so sorry. I really hope Rivian truly looks into this, heeding your experience and advice.

 

[crewzer]

I'm disappointed to hear that the all-terrain Pirreli's are not great in the snow, despite being 3 peak mountain snowflake rated. I just got them, and am having them installed on Friday.

Oh well - they'll look a lot cooler than the 22 inch range wheels for three seasons, and will do in a pinch.

Looks like I'm gonna be swapping to winter wheel/tire combo to drive up to the mountains.

I hope they fix this issue of not being able to complete turn off regen in snow mode in the next update. That seems really dangerous to not be able to coast to a stop in icy conditions without the brakes kicking in.

Is there no snow tire option without replacing wheels ?

I'm disappointed to hear that the all-terrain Pirreli's are not great in the snow, despite being 3 peak mountain snowflake rated. I just got them, and am having them installed on Friday.

Oh well - they'll look a lot cooler than the 22 inch range wheels for three seasons, and will do in a pinch.

Looks like I'm gonna be swapping to winter wheel/tire combo to drive up to the mountains.

I hope they fix this issue of not being able to complete turn off regen in snow mode in the next update. That seems really dangerous to not be able to coast to a stop in icy conditions without the brakes kicking in.

Is there no snow tire option without replacing the wheels?

 

[FreddyFugazi]

Damn, sorry to hear that OP.

I see a lot of people talking about no regen as the solution but I'd suggest that is not the right way to think about the problem. I have always used shifting into lower gears as a way to control my speed in ICE vehicles because it is less likely to cause a skid. Regen braking is the EV analogue, the problem is getting used to it and being much more deliberate with how you use your right foot. Never hard-lift off the throttle. Always roll-off, with the speed determined by the conditions. I don't mind Rivian offering a no regen option for folks, but I don't think no regen and all brakes is going to be safer unless you're unwilling to learn and use the one pedal driving technique.

To be fair, I think Rivian and other EV makers should do more to educate new EV owners about this type of thing. I've found it hard to retrain the muscle memory from ICE driving and in a situation like OP's I might have made the same mistake. I have actually practiced this on a snowy hill to get a feel for traction under regen but muscle memory takes time to retrain and sometimes you only have a split-second to decide how to react.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

It's pretty easy to hack your way to No Regen mode.

Fully charge, then drive down a hill.

Life hacks aside, low speed calibration in snow mode to lock up has improved since last year, and find my T is more compliant on slippery surfaces. Giving the vehicle a bit of acceleration and modulating the pedal are still a standard fail safe, should you find yourself breaking traction and sliding.

The fallback of "I've been driving in the winter for years, It's not me, it's my Rivian" is a bit weak. If you've been driving for years, especially in winter hardened regions, then you should be hyper aware of what roads you should travel and what hills with a steep embankment at the base, you should avoid.

I don't disagree that the wheels potentially locked up at low speed, but proper winter dedicated winter tires (in hardened winter areas) are a start, and driving technique comes in second. If either are missing, then you might as well drive a toboggan.

 

[Zorg]

Snow Regen is fine and better than braking in my experience in the snow with the R1T. That being said, I don't have the Pirelli tires

 

[HaveBlue]

Keep in mind that the newer duals and tri's are front wheel drive in All purpose. Driving in mountain roads with only the front wheels braking sucks bad.

Tow mode and all other modes force AWD so you get 4wheel regen.

A regular car you can instantly get to neutral beyond even engine braking with a clutch or shifter. The Rivian has a stupid plastic stick that doesn't shift into neutral until it's too late.

Here's a video where you can see the Rivian start to run away under Regen even in AWD mode. You get either brakes (stop) or gas/regen with runaway. Modulating in between is tough as regen comes in and out randomly. On a steeper hill it would go out of control.

 

[CANCERDOC]

Keep in mind that the newer duals and tri's are front wheel drive in All purpose. Driving in mountain roads with only the front wheels braking sucks bad.

Tow mode and all other modes force AWD so you get 4wheel regen.

A regular car you can instantly get to neutral beyond even engine braking with a clutch or shifter. The Rivian has a stupid plastic stick that doesn't shift into neutral until it's too late.

Here's a video where you can see the Rivian start to run away under Regen even in AWD mode. You get either brakes (stop) or gas/regen with runaway. Modulating in between is tough as regen comes in and out randomly. On a steeper hill it would go out of control.

I think trimotor is actually AWD in all purpose and FWD in conserve but it has auto AWD like the dual motor all purpose.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Keep in mind that the newer duals and tri's are front wheel drive in All purpose. Driving in mountain roads with only the front wheels braking sucks bad.

Tow mode and all other modes force AWD so you get 4wheel regen.

A regular car you can instantly get to neutral beyond even engine braking with a clutch or shifter. The Rivian has a stupid plastic stick that doesn't shift into neutral until it's too late.

Here's a video where you can see the Rivian start to run away under Regen even in AWD mode. You get either brakes (stop) or gas/regen with runaway. Modulating in between is tough as regen comes in and out randomly. On a steeper hill it would go out of control.

Haven't driven the dual motor variants, but under regen, don't the rear motors engage, especially under hard braking events? I know they re-couple above 35 mph? when the driver commands extra power, but curious if the same is true when braking/decelerating?

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