R2 has no rear locker?

[kenyee]

Probably won't matter for most people but I haven't seen this mentioned:

https://www.torquenews.com/17998/rivians-r2-has-road-hardware-problem-nobody-wants-say-out-loud

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[Mos Eisley]

That "article" is missing the point that the open diff's will use software to "virtually" lock wheel independently. I'm no off-roader but in all but possibly the most extreme situations, seems like this is a nothing burger.

demonstrated here:

 

[rfkxyz]

Probably won't matter for most people but I haven't seen this mentioned:

I'm no off-roader but in all but possibly the most extreme situations, seems like this is a nothing burger.

Honestly some of this seems like the right trade-off, at least for my own personal use case -

- The dual-motor R2 does not include a mechanical locking differential
- To reduce costs and weight, the R2 replaces the R1’s air suspension and hydraulic roll control with a more conventional setup. It features front struts, a rear multilink design, and standard coil springs with traditional anti-roll bars.
- 9.6 inches of ground clearance and 32-inch tires, which provide sufficient capability for moderate trails and fire roads.

I also have a reservation deposit for Scout Traveler BEV, but the delays seem to keep piling up just as my shopping timeline is shifting earlier into CY27/MY28. I like it for retro-modern design and physical switchgear, but I really don't need/want body-on-frame, locking differential-axle-whatevers, knuckle-dragger suspension, etc.

Really just need a softroader that can handle nothing more intense than a Boy Scout campout.

 

[usulio]

Pretty sure R2 was never supposed to have a rear locker in the first place.

 

[iamnid]

The R1 also does not include lockers. Why would we expect the cheaper model to come with them?

I agree they'd be great to have - on R1 and R2

 

[racekarl]

That article is pure clickbait slop. The author did no original research or have any first hand experience and instead bases his entire premise on a single line from a Car and Driver review. He then makes ludicrous statements implying that the R2 will compete with the F150 lightning.

I do not recall Rivian ever saying that the R2 would have a locking differential, making the whole premise that Rivian is being shady by "removing" it baseless.

The R1 also does not have a locking differential, and if this author had any experience with Rivian at all, would realize that the Quad's independent motor control does not behave like a locking diff anwyay.

 

[R1Thor]

Lockers aren't necessary.


And they're moreso unnecessary when you take actual classes from people who know what they're doing, who can demonstrate to you that YOU are the weak link in the vehicle's capabilities.

Just my unsolicited .02. I'm not here for debate. I've done that enough on this forum. Physics is physics. I'm sure you can find an edge case where lockers would've worked when the Quad didn't. I could also find a use case where the Quad, in its current iteration, would perform when lockers wouldn't. If you want a vehicle with lockers, get a vehicle with lockers. If you just want to wheel, understand with the proper training, you'll accomplish 99.9% of what you think you should be able to do offroad with your Rivian, and go out there and ENJOY IT! Hope to see you out there!

 

[godfodder0901]

Torque News is complete garbage and always has been. It's like the National Enquirer of the automotive world.

 

[Supratachophobia]

Haha, open differential was even more contentious than original car-play back in the day.

Stop trying to make differentials a thing. No one is going to be happy.

 

[renderpaz]

Yes, I'm sure Rivian will regret not spending the money on development and parts for a feature only 1% of buyers would even be aware of and only 0.001% of would ever use.

Only thing that would make this better, is if they complained that R2 doesn't have a "low gear"

 

[Time2Roll]

Just displays the state of the media today. Anything for clicks. No actual news or information.

 

[JasonK]

I disagree with those saying Locking differentials are not needed but in the most extreme off-roading experiences. In the winter when snow is on the ground you want all wheels to be driving the vehicle not just 2. You want as much traction as possible. I remember years ago trying to pull my brother out of a snow bank he was stuck in. I was so disappointed that my 4X4 f150 was spinning one wheel in the back and one in the front. I even have a limited slip rear end that is a joke. I have been spinning wheels on ice many times where the limited slip seems to do nothing. So Snow falls in the city and there are many many use cases for locking differentials for those of us that live in the city and have to deal with snow and ice. I did not really expect the R2 to have locking differentials, but it would be nice. I did see an interview where someone was taken for a ride in the R2 and someone asked about the simulated locking differentials and the Rivian rep. said that they work about 80% as good as a real locking differential. I doubt that would be true, but it gave me hopes that it works pretty good.

 

[FraserC]

Using brakes to control relative power delivery to your wheels can be much better than a relatively dumb locking or limited slip differential, for one excellent reason. It can be adjusted in fractions of a second, much like antilock brakes. It's all about finesse. This statement from the article: "Once you remove a physical locker as well, you are left leaning on the brakes to stop a spinning wheel and shove torque across the axle. That is old traction control logic, not some next-generation software trickery." is stupidly worded. It's not old logic, and furthermore it can (and will) be constantly improved, as antilock brakes will be. But it's already superior to 'set it and forget it' mechanical diff design, fundamentally. Written by a journalist who prefers old tech, it would seem to me.

 

[Time2Roll]

Have seen videos of R1 off road and wheels do spin and seems to take a long time for the traction control to adjust. Fraction of a second is not reality.

Personally I prefer a geared limited slip such as Eaton Truetrac.

 

[CarGuyCarl]

No Rivian has a locker... lol

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