portdirect
Well-Known Member
Here’s a copypasta of a post I did about this previously. Note that the ranges shown in the displays match the EPA certified numbers - there is no adjustment made based on driving history etc (the button to ‘reset’ does nothing other than provide a timestamp for monitoring - confirmed by Rivian).
What Drive Mode Corresponds to the Advertised 371-Mile Range?
In short—none.
According to Rivian’s own testing and submissions to the EPA:
By blending results from two distinct modes, Rivian achieves a more appealing—but less transparent—range estimate. However, this figure cannot be directly compared to any other EV on the U.S. market, as no other automaker takes this approach. Despite this, Rivian submitted the 371-mile figure to Fuel Economy for inclusion on the Monroney label.
Is This Misleading?
Technically, EPA guidelines sometimes allow multi-mode testing, meaning Rivian may not be violating explicit rules. However, this approach only holds up if Rivian can convince the EPA that the majority of drivers actually use Conserve mode in city driving and AP mode on the highway (which is highly questionable).
As a result, R1 owners and reviewers frequently ask why no drive mode actually displays “371 miles” on the dashboard—leading to repeated attempts to rationalize the discrepancy - like Marques did in the video here. This raises concerns about transparent reporting of electric vehicle range and how automakers can “game the system” by merging results from multiple modes to produce a more attractive but less realistic number.
This practice isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison with other EVs and makes it difficult for consumers to accurately assess real-world range expectations.
The Problem Becomes Worse When Executives Make Misleading Statements
This situation shifts from creative marketing to borderline deception when statements like the following are made publicly:
Transcript from Sandy Munro’s Interview with RJ Scaringe (Rivian CEO)
Sandy: so what's the range on this one here with the tri motor and stuff like that
RJ: so with the tri in um on the EPA test it's 371 miles EPA certified number yeah and to get that number we actually have to test it with uh essentially with all-wheel drive locked because we wanted to have it such that if you put in the uh normal mode the front L axles are both on if you go into conserve mode on this which has uh Dynamic uh rear disconnect so it goes on and off in conserve mode it does around 400 miles but the EPA number is 371 and that's different than our dual motors where we we actually have the dynamic rear disconnect always engaging or disengaging and the reason for that with the tribe we wanted to be able to lock so it's always immediately there full performance at all times even when you're in all-purpose mode so it's a decision we made to trade off a little bit on Range the EPA range but it's still 371 miles but I I'm driving one I I regularly get 400ish miles uh just by you know having it in conserve mode and and the neat thing about conserve mode on this is you can access both it's all wheel drive it's just all wheel drive on demand so the rear axle comes to life when you need it.
The Certification Process—Or Lack Thereof
Notably, Rivian has not yet been audited for the 2025 R1 values they submitted, and without pressure likely never will be, meaning the certification is currently just a rubber-stamp approval.
Also, notice that RJ never explicitly states that the 371-mile figure corresponds to AP mode—yet, given all the information above, it’s understandable why most people would assume that an EPA cycle would produce a 371-mile range in AP mode. That assumption, however, is simply incorrect.
#RangeGate?
Oh, I know some people won’t like that… ?
Edit: for 2026 Rivian claimed the following ranges for the TriMax to the EPA:
So the good news is @Wooly you are not missing miles on your R1 - they were never there on anyones. I don't understand why none of the media or any influencer has picked this up - they are ALL aware of this.
What Drive Mode Corresponds to the Advertised 371-Mile Range?
In short—none.
According to Rivian’s own testing and submissions to the EPA:
- All-Purpose (AP) Mode: ~346 miles
- Conserve Mode: ~395 miles
By blending results from two distinct modes, Rivian achieves a more appealing—but less transparent—range estimate. However, this figure cannot be directly compared to any other EV on the U.S. market, as no other automaker takes this approach. Despite this, Rivian submitted the 371-mile figure to Fuel Economy for inclusion on the Monroney label.
Is This Misleading?
Technically, EPA guidelines sometimes allow multi-mode testing, meaning Rivian may not be violating explicit rules. However, this approach only holds up if Rivian can convince the EPA that the majority of drivers actually use Conserve mode in city driving and AP mode on the highway (which is highly questionable).
As a result, R1 owners and reviewers frequently ask why no drive mode actually displays “371 miles” on the dashboard—leading to repeated attempts to rationalize the discrepancy - like Marques did in the video here. This raises concerns about transparent reporting of electric vehicle range and how automakers can “game the system” by merging results from multiple modes to produce a more attractive but less realistic number.
This practice isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison with other EVs and makes it difficult for consumers to accurately assess real-world range expectations.
The Problem Becomes Worse When Executives Make Misleading Statements
This situation shifts from creative marketing to borderline deception when statements like the following are made publicly:
Transcript from Sandy Munro’s Interview with RJ Scaringe (Rivian CEO)
Sandy: so what's the range on this one here with the tri motor and stuff like that
RJ: so with the tri in um on the EPA test it's 371 miles EPA certified number yeah and to get that number we actually have to test it with uh essentially with all-wheel drive locked because we wanted to have it such that if you put in the uh normal mode the front L axles are both on if you go into conserve mode on this which has uh Dynamic uh rear disconnect so it goes on and off in conserve mode it does around 400 miles but the EPA number is 371 and that's different than our dual motors where we we actually have the dynamic rear disconnect always engaging or disengaging and the reason for that with the tribe we wanted to be able to lock so it's always immediately there full performance at all times even when you're in all-purpose mode so it's a decision we made to trade off a little bit on Range the EPA range but it's still 371 miles but I I'm driving one I I regularly get 400ish miles uh just by you know having it in conserve mode and and the neat thing about conserve mode on this is you can access both it's all wheel drive it's just all wheel drive on demand so the rear axle comes to life when you need it.
The Certification Process—Or Lack Thereof
Notably, Rivian has not yet been audited for the 2025 R1 values they submitted, and without pressure likely never will be, meaning the certification is currently just a rubber-stamp approval.
Also, notice that RJ never explicitly states that the 371-mile figure corresponds to AP mode—yet, given all the information above, it’s understandable why most people would assume that an EPA cycle would produce a 371-mile range in AP mode. That assumption, however, is simply incorrect.
#RangeGate?
Oh, I know some people won’t like that… ?
Edit: for 2026 Rivian claimed the following ranges for the TriMax to the EPA:
| Tire Size | Mode | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 22” Sport | AP | 346.10 |
| 22” Sport | Conserve | 395.64 |
| 20” AT | AP | 308.44 |
So the good news is @Wooly you are not missing miles on your R1 - they were never there on anyones. I don't understand why none of the media or any influencer has picked this up - they are ALL aware of this.
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