R2 in snow & cold temperature testing

[1stPlace]

Having spent lots and lots of time driving in snow of all depths, I really have to agree. Unless it's absolutely essential to get to your destination today, there are hotels just about everywhere and the stress of that kind of driving just isn't worth it.

Snow storms can come and go in a matter of hours but sometimes it is better to move through it before it builds up and ice freezes to the road or before night fall, if you are talking about day trips within State. I, like many working Americans, are sometimes required by our employer to visit a client/customer a couple hours from home. My Hakka R5 Winter tires on my R1S were completely unneeded, until a memorable 3 hour drive home that might have turned out different on my 22" Pirelli Sport tires. The value proposition is there. These are heavy vehicles. A lot of damage can be done. Better safe than sorry.

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[usulio]

So will Rivian address cold headlamps that becomes useless when snowing?

Hope R2 (and R1) get a heat element in the lamp glass to address the ice/snow buildup.

People took your comment off topic into traction, but the headlight thing is still an issue and is the reason I put on grill lights. I've experienced snow covering the headlights, but luckily only during a daytime snowstorm, not night (yet). Others have had scarier situations.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...-to-led-headlights-not-melting-snow-ice.9956/

 

[1stPlace]

People took your comment off topic into traction, but the headlight thing is still an issue and is the reason I put on grill lights. I've experienced snow covering the headlights, but luckily only during a daytime snowstorm, not night (yet). Others have had scarier situations.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...-to-led-headlights-not-melting-snow-ice.9956/

I agree and have had at least one case of night driving where this was an issue. I hope they add a heat element in the light for R2, but I honestly do not expect it.

 

[Cactus]

So will Rivian address cold headlamps that becomes useless when snowing?

Hope R2 (and R1) get a heat element in the lamp glass to address the ice/snow buildup.

I hope so. Heated headlamps could be evaluated now (or before now) during testing. Seems like it should be something simple to embed a thin heated wire in headlight lens. But probably easy to overlook.

 

[mkhuffman]

In three winters of driving my Mach-e (that does not have heated headlights either) I never once drove in enough snow for it to cover the headlights. I just point this out because I expect a majority of owners who live in the U.S. will never have a problem with unheated headlights. Rivian has zero cash to burn on a feature very few people would ever need.

Maybe when they can finally get profitable, it might make sense to create a cold weather package that can be added by those who live in heavy snow prone areas. I doubt they can do that now as I doubt the revenue increase from that effort would be worth pulling key people off other higher revenue generating tasks.

 

[mkg3]

In three winters of driving my Mach-e (that does not have heated headlights either) I never once drove in enough snow for it to cover the headlights. I just point this out because I expect a majority of owners who live in the U.S. will never have a problem with unheated headlights. Rivian has zero cash to burn on a feature very few people would ever need...

It's not a feature, per sa, it's a safety item.

The Mach-e and R1 have different configuration of lights and it's also not a question of enough snow but how long one drives in the snow and how wet the snow, as a flake/size, is.

As the snow liquefy and the temperature is freezing, then there is an ice buildup starting to form. As one drives longer, the layer of ice now becomes the base to increase the build up. This build up ultimately becomes thick enough that the lights are no longer effective.

I don't know how rare this is for the majority of owners, as you say, but just about every time we drive in the snow to go skiing or rented cabin in the mountains, we have had this issue. The very flat headlamp configuration of Rivian, where the water doesn't run off as easily as say Mach-e where the angled headlamps with the help of velocity runs the water off probably compounds the issue.

 

[mkhuffman]

It's not a feature, per sa, it's a safety item.

The Mach-e and R1 have different configuration of lights and it's also not a question of enough snow but how long one drives in the snow and how wet the snow, as a flake/size, is.

As the snow liquefy and the temperature is freezing, then there is an ice buildup starting to form. As one drives longer, the layer of ice now becomes the base to increase the build up. This build up ultimately becomes thick enough that the lights are no longer effective.

I don't know how rare this is for the majority of owners, as you say, but just about every time we drive in the snow to go skiing or rented cabin in the mountains, we have had this issue. The very flat headlamp configuration of Rivian, where the water doesn't run off as easily as say Mach-e where the angled headlamps with the help of velocity runs the water off probably compounds the issue.

I did read complaints from Mach-e owners who live in snow country about snow accumulation on the headlights.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/winter-driving-sensors.31565/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/snow-catcher-front-end….43008/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...snow-storm-driving-experience-feedback.13434/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/led-headlight-icing-up.5526/

I think you do have a point about the raked headlight lens. It might help. But really, I bet all BEVs with LED headlights have this issue. I think LED headlights in general are an issue.

 

[Cactus]

I did read complaints from Mach-e owners who live in snow country about snow accumulation on the headlights.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/winter-driving-sensors.31565/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/snow-catcher-front-end….43008/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...snow-storm-driving-experience-feedback.13434/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/led-headlight-icing-up.5526/

I think you do have a point about the raked headlight lens. It might help. But really, I bet all BEVs with LED headlights have this issue. I think LED headlights in general are an issue.

A couple years ago my son put LED lights on his Jeep Wrangler and actually magnified this snow buildup issue due to the wrangler's headlight configuration within the body/grill.
I can't remember if the wrangler aftermarket community came up with a solution. And I agree it's a safety issue.

 

[ElEsido]

On many VW vehicles there is a headlight shower that is activated every X times you pull the windshield washer. The Anti-freeze agent melts ice and snow off the headlights. Obviously you need to make sure to start filling winter fluid with anti-freeze in late fall.

 

[RivAW]

After three years near Dubuque IA, I have not experienced this problem. I drive OEM 21s and don't worry ever about traction. The torque vectoring features are phenomenal.
For me, the risk benefit ratio of driving in snow that heavy does not make sense, Deep snow drifts across the highway, if you can't see them, may hang you up, and the next guy will crash in to you. Poor visibility will get you in trouble.
Towing, if you cn get it, or nine months without your vehicle while it gets repaired, will be inconvenient and expensive after your rates go up.
My choice would be to cozy up in a cheap hotel and go home in the daylight.
My thoughts are similar towards the expenses of dedicated winter tires. It just doesn't pencil out.

That’s all well and good and people who don’t have to be on the road in adverse weather should stay home…but some of us have to report for work (etc) regardless of weather (and some even more so in adverse conditions)…

 

[Billyk24]

Testing in the UP of Michigan at the famous testing grounds that many auto companies have used including Ford with its Mach E prior to its release to the public.

 

[BigSkies]

That’s all well and good and people who don’t have to be on the road in adverse weather should stay home…but some of us have to report for work (etc) regardless of weather (and some even more so in adverse conditions)…

This is the first thing I bring up when someone asks me if they need snow tires in Denver.

For many people, a snowstorm means school is cancelled and they're working from home while the kids are home for the day. They probably don't need snow tires.

I had one (kinda crazy) neighbor that was an ER doctor and had a 2 commute regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Snow tires weren't optional for him.

Context matters.

I felt I needed snow tires on the Rivian after my first snow with 21" pirelli's. The Rivian is heavy enough that when it starts sliding, it doesn't stop for a while. And minor body damage is a bigger deal in a Rivian than my prior Mazda.

 

[Thedude]

Just sat at a light with 2 R2‘s and their R1T chase vehicle. The R2‘s look pretty cool with their camo wrap. We got about a foot of snow today and tomorrow the temperatures will drop to below -20 so they have some good testing ahead.

 

[usulio]

I wonder if they are testing on stock tires or winter tires (or both).

We had a bunch of snow and then ice today in the front range and the R1S (Gen 1 quad) on Hakkapelita R5s was fantastic.

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