Learned more Rivian Gen 2 tech updates / differences to Gen 1

[R1Tom]

How common is a catastrophic short? Personally I am concerned about the battery wearing out and then needing to get into the truck to take care of it.

I have had happen in a relatively new Acura. 25k or something. Luckily they have manual key in the fob. Quick trip to walmart...on my way. Not so much with a Rivian...

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[Steve A.]

I have had happen in a relatively new Acura. 25k or something. Luckily they have manual key in the fob. Quick trip to walmart...on my way. Not so much with a Rivian...

Exactly. The non-over-engineered solution would be just to provide a backup physical key.

FWIW, my wife's Cayenne has the 12V battery under the passenger's feet which was easy to get to since her keyfob had a physical backup key.

When my 8 month old R1S 12V failed, jumping it only resulted in the driver side door handles popping out, so it must have been a short which at least wasn't a huge problem for the SC since the frunk release was accessible via the driver-side wheel well panel removal.

Having to remove the passenger seat for a 12V swap would be asinine, so I'll give the Rivian engineers the benefit of doubt and assume they've got a simpler solution in mind.

That said, it's a far cry from replacing EVERY other ICEV 12V that I've ever owned which was DIY replaceable in an hour or so instead of the 4.5 days it took for the SC to complete the replacement for me.

Far cry from Scout's pledge to deliver an EV that's 80%+ repairable in your own driveway; hopefully, they deliver on that promise, since by the time they deliver the in 2027 my R1S will have 150k+ miles on it and I'm sure my R1S will need at least another 12V replacement which will NOT be under warranty and cost $800+ plus another $200+ tow to the SC which is ridiculous.

 

[agame32]

FWIW, hasn’t it been reported that the seats can be removed via 4 easy bolts? Threads on people dropping items down between the seat and center console make it sound like popping the seat out is easier than fishing around for the item.

 

[SoCal Rob]

If the jump process doesn't work then you've got much bigger issues to worry about than a broken window.

How is that the case with a proper design, though?

On a gen 1 if the jump process doesn’t work you can use the manual release in the fender area to open the frunk and then replace the battery (or batteries on the early ones).

If there really is no work around short of breaking a window on a gen 2 when the jump process doesn’t work then you have a battery to replace, a bunch of glass to clean up, and a window to replace. The cleanup and window replacement would probably more than double the work involved.

I don’t see any “bigger issues” you’re referencing. Maybe I’m missing something?

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

On model year 2025 vehicles, a 12 V system jump start also provides power to:

l Adjust the front seats.​

l Open or close the front windows.​

l Access all storage areas.​

Waiting for someone to test this by disconnecting the battery and see if you can open the windows with 12V hooked to the jump points.

 

[CharonPDX]

• Heater grid behind the front fascia to prevent the radar from getting frosted over in cold weather

I enjoy how the photo shown alongside that in the slideshow is of an R1 with the entire front covered in snow - including the headlights, which are on, and barely visible, doing nothing useful.

No talk about defrosting on the *lights* though, which need it more.

 

[cgm9999]

Our '16 Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel has its AGM battery under the passenger seat. It can be changed by putting the seat fully up and forward. I keep a battery tender on it and I don't think it will be that hard to replace when the time comes.

I was ready to say this before I found your post.

I had the '15 JC EcoDiesel and had to replace the battery at year 8. Like you said, seat goes all the way forward and battery goes right in. No biggie. You could argue it's easier than doing one under the hood since it's never been exposed to the elements and lacks all the filth, rust, and grim a typical under-the-hood battery has.

All of these people going on and on about removing seats like this is the first time an OEM has ever did this had me shaking my head.

 

[R1Tom]

FWIW, hasn’t it been reported that the seats can be removed via 4 easy bolts? Threads on people dropping items down between the seat and center console make it sound like popping the seat out is easier than fishing around for the item.

I was ready to say this before I found your post.

I had the '15 JC EcoDiesel and had to replace the battery at year 8. Like you said, seat goes all the way forward and battery goes right in. No biggie. You could argue it's easier than doing one under the hood since it's never been exposed to the elements and lacks all the filth, rust, and grim a typical under-the-hood battery has.

All of these people going on and on about removing seats like this is the first time an OEM has ever did this had me shaking my head.

Name one of those vehicles that doesn't have a physical key for entry into the vehicle.

 

[R1Tom]

I'm sure they do. With the new door actuators, I'm willing to bet they can power them in case of a battery failure. Like Rob said, I bet putting them in the climate-controlled cabin will also reduce spontaneous battery failure.

Hopefully they publish that in the tow manual so that tow truck drivers can get in the trucks when the battery fails. With G1 it explains how to get in the frunk, so it will be good if Rivian explains that to prevent trucks needing to be towed from dragging them up on to a trailer.

 

[R1Tom]

Our '16 Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel has its AGM battery under the passenger seat. It can be changed by putting the seat fully up and forward. I keep a battery tender on it and I don't think it will be that hard to replace when the time comes.

I agree. If replacement is planned should be no big deal. But it would really be nice now if Rivian would explain how to get into a bricked G2 with a shorted 12v battery located in the interior under the driver's eat.

 

[kenyee]

seat goes all the way forward and battery goes right in

That would have been the right way to design it.
But if you watch the video, they said you need to *remove the seat*...

 

[hammick]

I agree. If replacement is planned should be no big deal. But it would really be nice now if Rivian would explain how to get into a bricked G2 with a shorted 12v battery located in the interior under the driver's eat.

What's all this talk of a shorted battery? If the battery drops below a certain voltage it can be jumped. Shorted batteries are usually sitting around for months or years with no charge. Even if a Gen2 battery somehow shorted wouldn't putting 12v on the jump start terminals allow the doors to be opened.

 

[R1Tom]

What's all this talk of a shorted battery? If the battery drops below a certain voltage it can be jumped. Shorted batteries are usually sitting around for months or years with no charge. Even if a Gen2 battery somehow shorted wouldn't putting 12v on the jump start terminals allow the doors to be opened.

Shorted batteries do happen. I don't know frequency but I personally have had one short in a pretty new vehicle.

I believe if the battery has shorted you would not be able to jump start the terminals. The short would cause a short on the 12v system so attempting to jump start it would be impossible.

Rivian should have done two things better....one...locate 12v battery where it can be more easily accessed...and two....put a physical key into the fobs....I know with PAAK most don't carry the physical key....but at least having the option means the owner can get in the truck with a 12v short type failure.

 

[SeaGeo]

I enjoy how the photo shown alongside that in the slideshow is of an R1 with the entire front covered in snow - including the headlights, which are on, and barely visible, doing nothing useful.

No talk about defrosting on the *lights* though, which need it more.

We all ask for heated headlights, we get heated radar sections. Love it.

 

[Budman]

Great video. Can someone explain a couple things on the screen shots below from the 12v portion of the video.

what is meant by “ front facia must be installed”? What is EZCM? What is “North power distribution unit”?

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