New '23 Rivian R1T Owner Needs Advice

[Drlangley]

I applaud you on jumping on board the Rivian experience, especially as a “new to you” owner. My ‘23 (bought new) experience has been great (not perfect but what truck is?). When people ask me how I like my truck, I always say I love it (I do), except for the monthly payment. By buying used you’re lessening my biggest complaint. With rewards comes risk, but there’s some great advice in this thread that will help you mitigate this. Congrats and best of luck!

Thanks for responding @Richmun! Very much appreciated.

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[zymolysis]

the 12v batteries.

12V battery warranty ends at 36000 miles. If there is no 12V battery error, it is unlikely that the SC can tell him anything (although they might have records to show whether the batteries have been replaced). The only thing he can do is prepare to replace the battery(ies) when they fail or generate an error. However, it is possible that a desulphating trickle charger could extend the life of the batteries.
The current price to have Rivian replace a G1 dual battery pair is $900, as quoted by my SC yesterday. Replacing with off the shelf batteries, or with Ohmmu lithium batteries remain as lower cost DIY options.

 

[iansriv]

The current price to have Rivian replace a G1 dual battery pair is $900, as quoted by my SC yesterday. Replacing with off the shelf batteries, or with Ohmmu lithium batteries remain as lower cost DIY options.

I read somewhere the lithium batteries are better. If that's the case why didnt Rivian do that with the current replacements? Also, do you know anyone that has done the diy? Wonder how involved it is?

 

[COdogman]

12V battery warranty ends at 36000 miles. If there is no 12V battery error, it is unlikely that the SC can tell him anything (although they might have records to show whether the batteries have been replaced). The only thing he can do is prepare to replace the battery(ies) when they fail or generate an error. However, it is possible that a desulphating trickle charger could extend the life of the batteries.
The current price to have Rivian replace a G1 dual battery pair is $900, as quoted by my SC yesterday. Replacing with off the shelf batteries, or with Ohmmu lithium batteries remain as lower cost DIY options.

Great points! That cost is steep, but I would probably pay it just because DIYing those batteries makes me nervous.

 

[zymolysis]

I read somewhere the lithium batteries are better. If that's the case why didnt Rivian do that with the current replacements? Also, do you know anyone that has done the diy? Wonder how involved it is?

"...why didnt Rivian..."
Why indeed. No way to know that. They might have had a long term deal with a supplier that they could not get out of.

Quite a few people have done it DIY. There is some risk involved - I think mainly that it could require a tow to SC to reset the system, if it doesn't reset correctly on its own.
Search here on the forums - I am sure that people have talked about replacing the batteries with equivalent Lead-Acid AGW, as well other people who have replaced them with Ohmmu lithium batteries. Ohmmu has a YouTube video, showing them replacing the batteries in a Rivian. I think that there are probably other videos from Rivian owners, as well.

Edit: Cost might be one of the reasons that Rivian hasn't gone to lithium. Figure parts cost multiplied by 10. That $900 for the SC to replace the batteries could become $1600, or something like that.

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