Confirmed: R2 / R3 will have tow hitch

[HaveBlue]

Model Y is 3500 so no way it will be less than that. Model X is 5000 and that is a highly likely match.

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[mkhuffman]

Actually they canceled the modular rack thing that you saw in those pics and have opted for a standard hitch. Trying to cut costs.

Now that I have my R1T, I am very unlikely to take delivery of my R2 order. But it is totally understandable for them to make a change that reduces cost. They need the R2 to generate cash, not burn it!

 

[JeepEVer]

The Jeep Wagoneer S is so lame it doesn't have a tow hitch for mounting a bike rack, nor the ability to put a ski rack on the roof, nor sufficient ground clearance to leave the pavement. R2 needs to do all of these things to actually be an SUV instead of just another cross-over vehicle.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

None of the pictures I've seen so far show a hitch cover on the back. Someone asked about a tow hitch and Rivian confirmed both will have a hitch although didn't provide any details. I'm hoping for at least a 3500lb tow limit.

Yeah, they ditched their proprietary thing in favor of a standard hitch. I think most people will use it for bike racks and whatnot.

 

[Guuma]

As a bikerack user, I am definitely glad they moved to a standard hitch concept: there just so many attachments already available for standard hitches, not sure how much of a benefit moving to a new system would be.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

As a bikerack user, I am definitely glad they moved to a standard hitch concept: there just so many attachments already available for standard hitches, not sure how much of a benefit moving to a new system would be.

That’s probably exactly why they did it. No need to reinvent the wheel. This will make third-party accessory manufacturers happy as well. Most people don’t like proprietary accessories either.

 

[Dohmar]

Agree. Hope they offer a max pack too for road tripping. I don't tow anything but it would be nice to get over 400 miles.

400 miles would be perfect for me too. Hopefully new battery tech will be able to add energy density, ie more range/same size. CATL have a few new batteries in development that seem promising, lets see what LG can come up with

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

400 miles would be perfect for me too. Hopefully new battery tech will be able to add energy density, ie more range/same size. CATL have a few new batteries in development that seem promising, lets see what LG can come up with

I could see them offering a Max Pack at some point, but the total cost is going to be closer to $60K or more. If the Standard Pack is $45K and 270 miles and the Large Pack goes 300+ miles then I’d imagine a Max Pack would be quite costly.

 

[Dohmar]

I could see them offering a Max Pack at some point, but the total cost is going to be closer to $60K or more. If the Standard Pack is $45K and 270 miles and the Large Pack goes 300+ miles then I’d imagine a Max Pack would be quite costly.

True, but its good to have the option. 400miles is over 650km which is huge enough for road trips, and in a country like Australia, those who live rural would likely pay extra for the capacity. City folks would get by with the minimum pack, no problem. My budget would be $60k USD max, hopefully import duties, shipping and tax don't pump that up too badly.. if I could get 300miles of $55k USD then that might be the sweet spot for me

 

[mkhuffman]

True, but its good to have the option. 400miles is over 650km which is huge enough for road trips, and in a country like Australia, those who live rural would likely pay extra for the capacity. City folks would get by with the minimum pack, no problem. My budget would be $60k USD max, hopefully import duties, shipping and tax don't pump that up too badly.. if I could get 300miles of $55k USD then that might be the sweet spot for me

On road trips, you typically charge 10 to 80%, so actual range between chargers is 0.7 x 400, or 280 miles. In the winter you lose another 20%, so winter range between chargers is 224 miles. And it is likely to lose at least 10% From EPA range if driven at 75 mph, which gives you 202 miles of range.

I agree 400 miles of range is good, but on road trips it isn't as good as it sounds. Either we need batteries that can maintain full charging speed up to 100%, or we need bigger batteries to make BEVs acceptable for the average road trip driver. IMO.

 

[Dohmar]

On road trips, you typically charge 10 to 80%, so actual range between chargers is 0.7 x 400, or 280 miles. In the winter you lose another 20%, so winter range between chargers is 224 miles. And it is likely to lose at least 10% From EPA range if driven at 75 mph, which gives you 202 miles of range.

I agree 400 miles of range is good, but on road trips it isn't as good as it sounds. Either we need batteries that can maintain full charging speed up to 100%, or we need bigger batteries to make BEVs acceptable for the average road trip driver. IMO.

Winter isn't really a concern, since the lowest it tends to get in winter is 2-3'c (35-37F). Speed limits here are 68mph nationally, with some states having a max speed limit of 62mph.
I'm interested in how it will tow. 5000lb would be perfect but I wonder how much range it'd lose?
I think thats where the bigger pack would come into play, because towing with an EV is going to mean many many stops to recharge

 

[HaveBlue]

Towing efficiency will likely be the same as with the R1S . The efficiency of the car doesn't matter much compared to the efficiency of what's being towed at that point. Tow the same trailer with a CT, MX, MY or other EV and you'll get the same miles per kwh.

 

[mkhuffman]

Winter isn't really a concern, since the lowest it tends to get in winter is 2-3'c (35-37F). Speed limits here are 68mph nationally, with some states having a max speed limit of 62mph.
I'm interested in how it will tow. 5000lb would be perfect but I wonder how much range it'd lose?
I think thats where the bigger pack would come into play, because towing with an EV is going to mean many many stops to recharge

Depending on the aerodynamics of the trailer, you are likely to lose 50% of your range towing.

BTW - 2 degrees Celsius will impact range. As the battery temperature drops bow 20 C it starts to impact range. The colder it gets, the more range is impacted. If you don't use climate control you can minimize the range impact in cold weather but there is still an impact. Parking inside a warm garage really helps on the first leg of the trip.

If you stay around 100 km per hour your range should be pretty close to the EPA rated range. But if you like to speed, like I do... nope. The R2 might do better on the highway than the R1 because it is smaller. I can get around 2.4-2.5 mi/kWh on my highway trips.

 

[Dohmar]

Depending on the aerodynamics of the trailer, you are likely to lose 50% of your range towing.

BTW - 2 degrees Celsius will impact range. As the battery temperature drops bow 20 C it starts to impact range. The colder it gets, the more range is impacted. If you don't use climate control you can minimize the range impact in cold weather but there is still an impact. Parking inside a warm garage really helps on the first leg of the trip.

If you stay around 100 km per hour your range should be pretty close to the EPA rated range. But if you like to speed, like I do... nope. The R2 might do better on the highway than the R1 because it is smaller. I can get around 2.4-2.5 mi/kWh on my highway trips.

I like to speed, but thats what the GTR is for Towing, 100kph is fine, I'd even do 80kph on double lanes if it saved a lot of range. Saying 2'c is the low, thats the extreme. Generally temp in winter is around 8-10'c at night, sometimes 14-16 is the average. We're in a mediterranean/dry climate in South Australia. My major concern is the hot temps that are over 42'c/110f since that's what I'd be having to deal with more realistically

 

[Dohmar]

Towing efficiency will likely be the same as with the R1S . The efficiency of the car doesn't matter much compared to the efficiency of what's being towed at that point. Tow the same trailer with a CT, MX, MY or other EV and you'll get the same miles per kwh.

What I'm curious about, is the factoring of :
a) the weight of the towed payload versus the weight of the EV and tongue weight
b) aerodynamics and if its possible at all to visualize in a wind chamber

Theres a cheapish camper trailer here in oz (Kings MT-1) its now discontinued but thats the kind of thing that I'd like to tow, its max weight is 2000kg/2T but its nowhere near as aerodynamic as an airstream caravan for example...

FYI for my climate locally,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Adelaide

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