Interest Request - Physical Buttons

[EV Play - Alex]

I'm in

I would be interested in adding stand alone buttons. I was thinking if someone could make something similar to Leviton quickport plates. You have a generic plate and offer different knobs, buttons, switches and blank filler plates. You match each button to what ever function you want to control, and select the type that makes sense. Volume would be a knob, kneel mode a switch etc...

Option to wire it into 12 volts for power would be nice.

Not sure about the location. Dash would be great if it looks good. Difficult to do though.

That's actually a pretty cool idea but yes, mounting and look & feel to match the dash are the sticking points. That's why I'm leaning towards something small that blends in vs. trying to match and ultimately clutter up the dash.

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[EV Play - Alex]

In. The biggest complaint I have about Rivian is their identical-to-Tesla cost-cutting model of getting rid of virtually all tactile UI just to save a few bucks. There are much better areas to cut costs like those cumbersome screen-controlled motorized HVAC vents. The amount of time I spend eyes off the road in my Rivian is scary compared to other vehicles I've driven.

You and me both! Speaking of vents, one thing you could do is have this toggle between vent presets and essentially create swinging vents. I'm sure they would break eventually (or maybe not?), but it would be cool while it lasted (pun intended).

 

[KBabione]

After a 7-hour trip yesterday, mostly with driver assist in Conserve mode (and inspired by @Dark-Fx and his comment about resume), here's how I'd map the 3 push buttons (leaving the knob available for something else):

1. Put the Rivian in Conserve mode and set the cruise control to the current speed
2. Turn off cruise control and put the Rivian in AP mode
3. Switch between CarPlay and the Rivian UI (I have the EV Play unit on order - this means I only have one wireless gadget to track) or, if this isn't possible, to resume the cruise control at the speed last set without any mode change.

Furthermore, I wouldn't "permanently" mount the buttons anywhere - I'd only be using it for longer trips and would probably leave it in the center bin (along with an extra battery) until I needed it, so I hope it has an on/off switch.

@EV Play - Alex - For my use case, I'd love to have a clip that would attach it to the visor. The same would apply to the EV Play toggle switch. I just don't need that functionality around town where I do 80% of my driving.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

You and me both! Speaking of vents, one thing you could do is have this toggle between vent presets and essentially create swinging vents. I'm sure they would break eventually (or maybe not?), but it would be cool while it lasted (pun intended).

I suggested oscillating vents to Rivian. That would give a reason for why the vents are motorized and could cool the cabin down better. I like that idea.

 

[Reed1T]

I’m in.
Almost bought the buttons for my Tesla, but sold the car instead.
After having cars with almost no buttons for 7 years, I miss them a bit and would appreciate some shortcuts.

 

[EV Play - Alex]

After a 7-hour trip yesterday, mostly with driver assist in Conserve mode (and inspired by @Dark-Fx and his comment about resume), here's how I'd map the 3 push buttons (leaving the knob available for something else):

1. Put the Rivian in Conserve mode and set the cruise control to the current speed
2. Turn off cruise control and put the Rivian in AP mode
3. Switch between CarPlay and the Rivian UI (I have the EV Play unit on order - this means I only have one wireless gadget to track) or, if this isn't possible, to resume the cruise control at the speed last set without any mode change.

Furthermore, I wouldn't "permanently" mount the buttons anywhere - I'd only be using it for longer trips and would probably leave it in the center bin (along with an extra battery) until I needed it, so I hope it has an on/off switch.

@EV Play - Alex - For my use case, I'd love to have a clip that would attach it to the visor. The same would apply to the EV Play toggle switch. I just don't need that functionality around town where I do 80% of my driving.

Appreciate the feedback. What about 5 buttons instead of 3 + a knob?

 

[KBabione]

Appreciate the feedback. What about 5 buttons instead of 3 + a knob?

I think for me that would be a better use case, but for those who want to, for example, adjust temperature, a knob would be more useful. If you get the backend to work properly, then perhaps you offer three different (to keep your inventory manageable) wireless control options.

• 3 Buttons with a knob
• 5 Buttons
• 5 Buttons with 2 knobs (one on each end)

Would there be an app on our phone to configure and define the macro assigned to each button? Also - to do something like "resume" on the cruise control you'd need to be regularly checking and logging the current speed if the cruise is set. That might be too much unless Rivian is storing it somewhere (and if they are, why didn't they give us a resume feature?).

 

[sparkles]

Appreciate the feedback. What about 5 buttons instead of 3 + a knob?

I'd prefer additional buttons vs knobs. Will it be possible to assign separate functions for long presses of the buttons?

 

[Surferdude]

I suggested oscillating vents to Rivian. That would give a reason for why the vents are motorized and could cool the cabin down better. I like that idea.

I would think this would impart unnecessary wear and tear on the motors and parts. I already had one motor act up and now doesn't respond. Stuck with the air blowing in one direction. These will become big liability items for Rivian in the long run (and bigger liability Items for owners in the very long run) Poor design choice.

 

[EV Play - Alex]

I think for me that would be a better use case, but for those who want to, for example, adjust temperature, a knob would be more useful. If you get the backend to work properly, then perhaps you offer three different (to keep your inventory manageable) wireless control options.

• 3 Buttons with a knob
• 5 Buttons
• 5 Buttons with 2 knobs (one on each end)

Would there be an app on our phone to configure and define the macro assigned to each button? Also - to do something like "resume" on the cruise control you'd need to be regularly checking and logging the current speed if the cruise is set. That might be too much unless Rivian is storing it somewhere (and if they are, why didn't they give us a resume feature?).

Yes, an iPhone and Android app to assign functions and macros.

 

[EV Play - Alex]

I'd prefer additional buttons vs knobs. Will it be possible to assign separate functions for long presses of the buttons?

Great idea. I'm going to tentatively say yes...and/or a double tap.

 

[EV Play - Alex]

I would think this would impart unnecessary wear and tear on the motors and parts. I already had one motor act up and now doesn't respond. Stuck with the air blowing in one direction. These will become big liability items for Rivian in the long run (and bigger liability Items for owners in the very long run) Poor design choice.

Agree...perhaps I should also come out with physical vents. They attach to the existing vents and the louvers are hand adjustable.

Half kidding?

 

[bigsky]

For the love of god, should you want stupid knobs, buttons, and manual louvers, get a goddamn dumb ICE car and be happy. All of that bs is blasphemous, insidious, horrific ICE-legacy crap from those who just cannot let go, much less cannot ever deal with or adjust to chamge.

 

[EV Play - Alex]

For the love of god, should you want stupid knobs, buttons, and manual louvers, get a goddamn dumb ICE car and be happy. All of that bs is blasphemous, insidious, horrific ICE-legacy crap from those who just cannot let go, much less cannot ever deal with or adjust to chamge.

Nothing to do with nostalgia or ICE vs EVs (plenty of new ICE vehicles suffer from this same thing). It has to do with distracted driving. You simply cannot turn up the fan/heat/vent position -- and many other basic vehicle functions -- without taking your eyes off the road. With physical buttons, you can.

 

[KBabione]

For the love of god, should you want stupid knobs, buttons, and manual louvers, get a goddamn dumb ICE car and be happy. All of that bs is blasphemous, insidious, horrific ICE-legacy crap from those who just cannot let go, much less cannot ever deal with or adjust to chamge.

I'm not sure how this comment is helpful - if there's a thread that you know definitely doesn't apply to you why even read it, much less comment on it?

I'd be happy with even one button to which I can assign a macro that takes me out of conserve and puts me in AP (or vice-versa). I play guitar and, because of the callouses on my fingers, I often have to tap the screen multiple times for it to recognize my request. That's just more unnecessary time with my eyes off the road at a time where I had to disable driver assist to make my change.

Having buttons like this in a small wireless package that I can pull out on long trips would make my driving experience better and safer - I apologize if that offends you. I don't believe @EV Play - Alex meant any offense by suggesting that something like this might be possible either.

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