I changed my mind on Max Pack

[Dhevey]

Yep, it’s insanity for $10k extra. Especially when the real world increase is so far off from the advertised theoretical maximum.

On road trips you’d have to spend well over an hour or more at each charging stop to take advantage of that theoretical maximum (which you still won’t touch at highway speeds).

It really depends on your intended usage. I bought the max pack because it allows me to travel between two different houses, fully charged to 100% with solar, without stopping to charge. On other road trips where I only charge to 80% it’s less important, but not negligible.

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[DuoRivians]

I think he literally is also talking about the extra range on long trips. He mentions his wife’s range anxiety, not her concern about time at chargers.

But have you looked at the real world charging followed by range travelled comparisons? The large pack actually outperforms the max pack on usable range added/time charging when DC charging in spite of all the theoretical curves.

When it comes to real world usage you get virtually no advantage from the Max pack other than if you take the vehicle from 100% to 0% you get a 10-15% increase in range, which essentially disappears after that on road trips unless you don’t care about your charging times and are willing to sit and charge to 100% every time.

This isn’t the test. The test is how many kWh are added for the same amount of time at a charger, at the same SoC. Max pack is faster.

It has a 149kwh pack versus a 135kwh large pack.

Max pack configuration also comes with a more efficient rear motor, because the rear motor contains a silicon carbide based inverter.

When the rear motor is engaged, the Rivian gets a lot more range than the large pack, which is where the 400 mile EPA estimate comes from. So, if you use the rear motor a lot (in sport mode, city driving, towing, off-roading), the max pack has many advantages.

 

[DuoRivians]

Marginal please check actual results

I have, it adds more kWh. Enough to make about 5-10 min difference at a charging stop

 

[W1SE]

I honestly love this conversation. This was EXACTLY my debate with myself since MAX PACK was introduced. I didn’t expect to be eating so much popcorn while reading some comments. Haha

so here is my specific use case in traveling to Utah where my son lives (738 miles)

currently we stop 4 times and arrive with about 30% SOC. Two of the stops are food and we end up relaxing and sitting for a while. We would sit way past 80% because why unplug if you’re still eating. The other two stops are just telling the kids to go roam around Walmart and find something interesting for $2.


Now imagine you have a larger Battery (even if marginal as some have pointed out) this charge to get to 80% take longer because it’s more juice but we are eating anyway so who cares. With a Max Pack we can cut the trip down to 2 stops.

current stops usually include:
Boardman, OR
Lagrande, OR
Boise, ID
Burley, ID

new stops
Lagrande, OR
Burley, ID

by charging 100% at home we can comfortably make it through the first stop. Even though stop two is longer we will be eating anyway. Then we can make it to burley, ID.

I think the other people discount in the max pack conversation is comfortably passing a station you don’t need if you still only have 8% more battery.

I will be sending another report after this is all done. On our next trip.

 

[rhumbliner]

Worth it or not got mine at fairly good price. 2023 R1T Max Pack DM was 89K, after 10K Rivian discount, 79K, with Rivian 5K trade in credit and $3750 tax credit, $70250. No more left in the Rivian Shop.

Ditto. I traded my 2022 R1T QM Large Pack for the 2023 DM Max Pack which I got for $79k, minus $62k I sold the 2022 for, minus the $3750 credit. For me even a few miles is worth it when towing my AS. I don’t care about charging time. I just want to make it to the next charger.

 

[Supratachophobia]

OP isn’t talking about the extra highway range. OP is claiming the charging curve is faster versus the large pack. And the time savings from the better charging curve makes it worth it

Which is incorrect....

 

[R1SFamilyGuy]

(738 miles)

currently we stop 4 times and arrive with about 30% SOC

popcorn question: looks like you make this trip often. Will an ICE actually work out more economical in comparison?

 

[R1SFamilyGuy]

Also, to make a FOR point, I originally decided against max pack for my use case but I did wonder if it’s more beneficial for camping and such peripheral usage

 

[JamuJoe]

So I have owned my R1T for two years. I always thought the max pack idea was a waste. The 328 mile range has been great. From Washington I have driven to Utah and Idaho a few times. I always though the Max Pack was for newbies or those with serious range anxiety. Because charging is fine on trips and driving around town you never need the amount of range the large pack gives.

So here it is, My wife is looking for a new EV and we want it to take the family on more trips (6 of us). In the next 3 years we want to take the kids to many notable places in the west, among these places are Yellowstone, Redwoods, Vancouver Island, Grand Canyon, and Zion NP to name a few.

Even though I do fine with 328 miles i have realized with how charging curves work the 400 mile range on the R1S means 1/3 less stops. Over long distances this is a game changer. After thinking about all this my wife, who was NEVER going to get an R1S, realizes this is the only 6+ passenger vehicle that can do this. So we pick up our second Rivian next week.

I am so excited for the Max pack now.

I have no regrets over my R1T Max Pack, particularly as I enjoyed early order pre-increase pricing. I discount the U-tubers who dance and wail about the added cost. This is an expensive vehicle, cost was not my primary decision factor. I appreciate the added range, especially when I am towing south from Durango through New Mexico where charging is scarce. Go with your choice and be more confident in taking those family trios.

 

[W1SE]

popcorn question: looks like you make this trip often. Will an ICE actually work out more economical in comparison?

We use this car around town too. with a ICE vehicle that means going to gas stations. You know once you stop going to gas stations 2 times a week you just don’t want to go back.

 

[JamuJoe]

Yeah, I was fully onboard to get a max pack for my R1S, and then watched OOS Kyle’s range test videos and realized that it’s less than 30 miles of real world range increase. Not worth $10k to me.

I don't want to get into a debate about this. Many folks think its not worth it, I personally can't justify the additional charge...however some folks find value in it and that's all that matters. There is value here in the larger capacity...how much value is subjective.

According to the EPA, Large has a usable capacity of 131 kwh and max has a usable capacity of 142 kwh. We have a difference of 11 kwh. 131/142 = 0.9225352112676056 . So we round down to 92% and that is where i come up with an 8% difference. If you want to be conservative round up to 93% and its a 7% difference.

In the end all that matters is if the person buying it finds value in it. The facts are all well known at this point right?

To me its similar to buying that cutting edge CPU or GPU ...it costs significantly more to have the absolute best/fastest/highest model of anything.

We could get into a similar debate about something like PPF. For me it was worth it to do full PPF because I can rest a little easier at night. If I look at it from a strictly financial/analytical POV its not worth it because very little of that expense is recoverable on resale.

You’ve nailed it. Personal preference and use case value consideration. PPF holds no value in my book, but even 8% of added range towing through remote areas is important to me.

 

[HaveBlue]

I have too many trips that that I can do with zero stops that would leave me at zero or below with a large battery. Whatever the additive efficiencies, they allow me to get places and home with 5-10% versus a dead battery meaning I'd have to stop for safety reasons. It's just worked out for me that way and being able to tow our trailer 225 miles is just so much less stressful. That extra hour of range is nice but Tesla has lightened the burden.

 

[jwanderson88]

He paid the $10k already. Leave the poor guy alone.

 

[pricedm]

...people seem to be seriously misinformed about how the max pack’s theoretical benefits actually translate to real world usage. And I figure it can’t hurt to point that out before they spend the extra $10k.

Yes, in general. But for some inventory models, the Max pack 2023 R1T is the same cost as a Large pack 2024 R1T.

Agree there's a lot of (mis)information for the new EV owner to sift thru....some info can make the "400 mile range!" seem like a big increase compared to Max pack, but in reality, outside of initial departure, if charging to 100%, not much extra range is gained.

Side note/ separate thread already exists-- IF the software locked Standard+ owners are allowed to upgrade to full Max capacity post-purchase, this could be a significant "demand lever" for Rivian to use. More sales under the $80k federal tax incentive ceiling, with a post-purchase upgrade to Max capacity. Plus a faster charging curve of the Standard+ compared to Max.

 

[pricedm]

popcorn question: looks like you make this trip often. Will an ICE actually work out more economical in comparison?

No. Don't forget to add oil changes etc. for ICEmobile. Plus the fun-factor driving EV.

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