New R2 Purchase w/ 700 Miles Road Trip Thoughts

[VSG]

well your Camry and 4Runner don't have the same engine, so boxy shape isn't the whole story

Neither do a Lyriq and an R2, so I guess you missed the point

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[Dennisis]

I look forward to the day when batteries are half the current size and provide twice the range we have today. It’s coming, we’re just early to the party. The price to be paid to be an early adopter and I’m OK with that - builds character!!

 

[junglebird]

You do realize that 20% bigger battery would reduce the number of charging stops, but wouldn't materially change the total time of your trip (all other things being equal).
I personally don't mind stopping after 2-3h driving, and my dog also appreciates it. I'm trying to keep trips enjoyable for everybody.

Not a big deal when you're travelling on Interstates where chargers are now plentiful in most areas. But if you're headed into a charging desert, an extra 20% range can be very useful!

As for the max pack, another 20kw would put the price of the vehicle in the $70K~75K, even if they could find the space for it - and will not sell. There is R1S for that.

R1S is too large for many of us. R2 is close to the ideal size, and I would not have a problem paying a premium to get a longer range. The more likely competitors would be iX3 and EX60, which are already in that price range (or more for ~400 miles EPA?).

 

[windshieldfarmer]

700 miles @ 80mph =8.75 hours of driving
700 miles at 70mph =10 hours of driving.
So you saved 75 minutes by going 10mph faster over the course of that trip.

Slowing by 10mph to 70mph will greatly increase your efficiency and may even eliminate at least 1 charging stop for say 35-40 minutes in total. Thus your 75 minutes of time saving would be reduced to about 35-40.

out here in CA, that 10mph is also the difference between seeing the red & blue in your rear view mirror and not. For me, I’ll trade that 35-40 all day long to avoid the hassle of a speeding ticket (which will suck even more time that you’ll never get back).

Im always perplexed when people drive so fast, yet complain about low efficiency.

He lives in Texas….80mph is slowing down. The speed limit on several roads in Texas is 85 mph, many are 75mph. The harsh reality is the R2 drives great at high speeds but efficiency is impaired by physics. A slightly undersized battery is an additional negative. Yes, slowing down is always an option but that is not necessary on some of the R2s biggest competitors.

I too was optimistic the high speed efficiency would be better on my R2 than it is. I didn’t buy it for extensive distance travel…so it works. But I’m coming from a BMWIX50: I would estimate R2 highway efficiency to be about 10% less…due to more aero drag and AT tires. The BMW also has a 20% larger battery.

 

[Mathme]

distance, speed and efficiency.
They are three legs of a stool on a road trip. You only get to pick Two and can’t bitch about the last when it is not in your favor.

 

[3dogfl]

Maybe a two-speed, like Porsche and Mercedes offer, would be a solution. The new glc400 is getting very good range-reviews.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Nice write up. Reading comprehension can get a bit lost around here as people jump to make their points. You made it very clear you had to go at least 80 but then the speed efficiency police had to come on in anyway and try to correct you lol

My only advice is get rid of EVGo, Electrify America and Chargepoint as options in the charging menu. Tesla, Ionna and RAN or even the Mercedes Benz chargers are the only ones worth stopping at. This is not an R2 issue. Those chargers just suck.

 

[mkhuffman]

Nice write up. Reading comprehension can get a bit lost around here as people jump to make their points. You made it very clear you had to go at least 80 but then the speed efficiency police had to come on in anyway and try to correct you lol

My only advice is get rid of EVGo, Electrify America and Chargepoint as options in the charging menu. Tesla, Ionna and RAN or even the Mercedes Benz chargers are the only ones worth stopping at. This is not an R2 issue. Those chargers just suck.

I agree. And I have heard the new Walmart and GM networks are good, so I include those (but have never used them personally).

It is becoming easier and easier to avoid the crappy stations. It has taken a while, but I can finally see the day when there are so many charging options you don't need to plan trips like you do now. I still plan, but it is definitely easier. And most of the time I don't need to change the route just to hit the charger I want.

 

[Qamera]

Keep in mind that a 20kwh larger pack increases the price significantly and also significantly negatively impacts handling due to the extra mass.

Also decreases efficiency even at lower speeds because you are hauling more dead weight.

 

[windshieldfarmer]

Also decreases efficiency even at lower speeds because you are hauling more dead weight.

Perhaps….but the forthcoming BMWIX5 will have a 145 kWh pack….and I suspect it will handle quite well. Its efficiency will be decent…though not outstanding. Just saying efficiency and weight is not always mutually exclusive on well designed EVs. That said, the R2 is decent for what it is…a boxy off road capable EV.

 

[LevelHeaded]

As for the max pack, another 20kw would put the price of the vehicle in the $70K~75K, even if they could find the space for it - and will not sell. There is R1S for that.

I don't think this is true, many other brands offer multiple capacities without issue in this category. From what I understand BMW is having no issue selling their manufacturing capacity of 70-75k ix3s and yet are still offering the 40 & 50 globally (and 30?). Volvo with the 10 and 12 (and 6?) of the EX60, etc.

I think the only reason Rivian isn’t offering multiple battery SKUs right now is ramp and manufacturing capacity.

 

[narmstrong79]

The Bad
1. Efficiency/Range - I know it's been said but my god the efficiency and range are worse than I could have ever thought. To go a simple 230 miles one way required almost 100 KWH to drive or somewhere between 2.1 - 2.3 Miles per Kwh.

Efficiency has been beaten to death. @Rivian gaming the EPA rating has been a huge disservice for an otherwise great vehicle. That being said, I'm getting 2.1-2.3 in my R1S Dual for summer highway efficiency, You would think the R2 smaller size, weight and aero would've give it a decent bump over the R1 in real world.

 

[hsctiger]

OK, so I'm learning a lot from this thread as I tap my fingers waiting for my number to be called...

I've owned my MS 12 years and have only used Tesla charging stations (free to me). Is there a thread y'all can point me to that talks about the various qualities of the different charging stations (EV Go, IONNA, etc.)? Or do we want to debate that here?

The Tesla chargers have improved incredibly over my 12 years of ownership. Some places still too crowded (Atlanta near the Braves stadium- talking to you, and also South Boston VA is always packed) and only one creepy location (Columbia, SC) but I've been largely very happy with their charging stations. Looks like the RAN is also improving, but won't have all the thousands of locations like Tesla so I'll have to learn the good 3rd party chargers vs. the bad.

Also, does the Rivian navigation allow you to include/exclude certain brands of charging stations or is that done via ABRP?

 

[ben24]

Well you can in the app and in the R1, so I would be very surprised if you couldn't do that in the R2.

Never owned a boxy vehicle before? My Camry got much better mileage than my 4Runner when doing 80 too. That's should be expected, not come as a surprise.

Not counting the engine, Camry’s tire, transmission, height and weight would surely make it more efficient.

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