Rivian in cold weather

[mkhuffman]

I have yet to live through a winter with my R1T, but I have experienced winter in a BEV and agree with most of the previous comments.

I will add that you should try to keep the truck plugged in as much as possible. Definitely find a way to plug in at your home, so it can use shore power to keep the battery warm overnight. (I am pretty sure the R1 will warm the battery if it gets too cold, and that will increase vampire drain unless you are connected to a EVSE.)

Highway range if you drive 75 mph or faster will be 80% of EPA range.
Take another 10-20% off when the weather is bad.

In really bad weather (cold and windy with snow or rain) you may see 60% of the EPA range. I agree 50% is probably worse than you will ever see, but speed kills range. If the weather is really bad and you are driving 80 mph, it could drop to 50%.

I love my R1T and I highly recommend you take the plunge. I second the recommendation to get the Max pack. Range anxiety is real, and the more battery you have the better your experience will be.

Sponsored

 

[sherold]

Thank you, this is insightful! For point 2, I typically run on the cooler side and appreciate warmer temps than the average, especially in the winter months. I often set the temp setting between 75 and 80 F in my current vehicle. This is realistic to me, but would that be considered unrealistic for the R1T Gen 1 in sub-zero temps?

It will have no problem reaching those temps, you'll just consume significantly more energy maintaining them. I am "cold blooded" as well. Using the heated seat & steering wheel and, lowering the cabin temp to around 73 is a better way to stay efficient and warm. The default "auto" HVAC setting with heat uses windshield defog and floor vents to provide heat. If I'm chilled, I prefer to close the defog vent and open the driver side dash vents to provide more direct heat

 

[jrmbadger]

My wife and I were just talking about this. We have both an R1S and a tesla model y. We both agreed that the EVs heat up faster than the ICE cars. The heaters in ICE cars need to warm up the engine first (a large block of metal). Heaters in EVs either pull the heat from the air and other components (if you have a heat pump) or generate it immediately (resistive heating).

Range loss in cold is real for at least three reasons: 1.) cold temperatures mean denser air and thus more friction and worse aerodynamics. You may not notice this, but your F150's gas mileage goes down in winter too. 2.) The cold slows down the chemical reactions inside the battery making less power available. 3.) the use of the heater in the cabin. While your F150 used waste heat from the combustion, EVs cannot really do that, so they have to generate their own heat.

I'm not going to sugercoat it, the range loss can be significant on a cold-soaked battery. I've seen 35-40% range loss in -10F or more weather on the model y. More typical winter weather results in 10-15% loss. Further, winter weather around here can come with some significant winds that also cause range loss issues.

If you are driving a large distance on a very cold day - as you say you do - you will likely have to stop at a DC fast charger for 10-15 minutes.

HOWEVER, if you have access to regular level 2 charging (e.g., at home) - the 15-20 minutes you spend at a fast charger on your trips to Chicago will be more than made up for with you not having to go to gas stations all the time in your F150.

Edit: Also one more thing to consider. In your F150 you (should be) - standing outside the entire time while you fill up. In an EV you connect your car and then you can sit inside the car in the warmth waiting for it to fill up.

 

[lmerani]

I really appreciate the responses and insight being contributed here. As a first time Rivian owner, this is very helpful info. I decided to proceed with a Gen 1 R1T dual max and just see how it goes!! I've seen the negative comments about the max battery option and its value, however, as a first time EV owners and first time Rivian owner, this just gives me the extra peace of mind the quell my concerns enough to move forward into one. For charging, I plan to have level 2 charging installed at home and work. I realize it's going to be a big adjustment from the F150 especially going from having 700 miles of range to ~320 ish, but I also understand the expectations need to change. My biggest concern is staying comfortable on the super cold days when on the highway and having the range to make it without too much inconvenience. I love the EV drivetrain and instant torque and am looking forward to experiencing that part soon and I hope the compromises will be worth it for all the good points.

 

[jrmbadger]

I really appreciate the responses and insight being contributed here. As a first time Rivian owner, this is very helpful info. I decided to proceed with a Gen 1 R1T dual max and just see how it goes!! I've seen the negative comments about the max battery option and its value, however, as a first time EV owners and first time Rivian owner, this just gives me the extra peace of mind the quell my concerns enough to move forward into one. For charging, I plan to have level 2 charging installed at home and work. I realize it's going to be a big adjustment from the F150 especially going from having 700 miles of range to ~320 ish, but I also understand the expectations need to change. My biggest concern is staying comfortable on the super cold days when on the highway and having the range to make it without too much inconvenience. I love the EV drivetrain and instant torque and am looking forward to experiencing that part soon and I hope the compromises will be worth it for all the good points.

Awesome and welcome to the Rivian family! I compare going from a gas car to an EV as like transitioning from a flip phone to a smart phone. The EV is better in almost every way, except the ways you brought up (range + cold weather gremlins). I will not willingly go back to gas cars.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

My wife suggested that we pay the extra for Max Pack on our first Rivian (the R1S).

For us, the peace of mind was worth quite a few extra dollars. It wasn't logically cost-effective, but it works for us emotionally.

Best wishes!

 

[hudesigns]

About your Chicago concert trips in cold weather and with Max pack, it all boils down to that one charging stop you need to figure out strategically. I think a stop before concert is a good one since you have plenty of time to precondition to a battery already not so cold with 2 hour driving. After concert you just want to get home so try not to mess around with charging on way back. Really not an issue for all other wonderful things that R1T will entertain you for rest of the year. Actually figuring out smart charging stops is like a fun game after a while.

 

[Bob S]

I’m about to experience my first winter in my new to me 2023 R1T duel max. Got her early Nov. been averaging 2.5 mi/kWh temps in 20-40’s. Rivian gave a 380 mile range. The two times I charged to 100% I saw 390+. We ski in the white mountains and often see overnight temps reaching -20. I will be parking outside. I’m curious how this will go but I’m only traveling 170 miles each way and will have level 2 charging in both places. Been reading a lot here and on FB. I’m more concerned with the headlights in white out conditions.

 

[mkhuffman]

I’m about to experience my first winter in my new to me 2023 R1T duel max. Got her early Nov. been averaging 2.5 mi/kWh temps in 20-40’s. Rivian gave a 380 mile range. The two times I charged to 100% I saw 390+. We ski in the white mountains and often see overnight temps reaching -20. I will be parking outside. I’m curious how this will go but I’m only traveling 170 miles each way and will have level 2 charging in both places. Been reading a lot here and on FB. I’m more concerned with the headlights in white out conditions.

Try treating the headlights with RainX for plastic.

 

[Bob S]

Its visibility that concerns me we drive north at night and often drive though white out conditions. I just read this post.
Rivian headlights at night in snowstorm = zero visibility

 

[mkhuffman]

Its visibility that concerns me we drive north at night and often drive though white out conditions. I just read this post.
Rivian headlights at night in snowstorm = zero visibility

I am following that thread also. It is a LED headlight issue, maybe exasperated because there is no heat generation happening under the hood. But personally, I don't think it is much (if any) better with a ICEV and LED headlights.

RainX for plastic might work. Give it a shot.

 

[hudesigns]

Just did same trip of around 350 miles to Maine as I did in October when I had done whole trip without charging with 50 miles to spare at destination. But yesterday with temperatures between 30°- 40°, I would have done it again with 0% on arrival but I opted to have one charge at supercharger for 8 minutes, 10 kWh and $5. At destination I had 17 miles and 4% on the dial. Average efficiency 2.51 mi/kwh. Nothing to write home about but surly a very easy trip.

 

[RivAW]

These types of trips may occur once per month, so not the primary use case.

Even 1x per month, if legitimately -20 and 5 hours might make the case against EV at the moment.....unless you have fast charging along the way and don't mind the stop (not an issue for me because I would want to stop for bathroom and/or food/coffee within that time period anyhow.

 

[Cycliste]

I realize it's going to be a big adjustment from the F150 especially going from having 700 miles of range to ~320 ish, but I also understand the expectations need to change.

As you get older (60s), 480 km / 300 miles of range does not matter because your buttocks and bladder only have about a 200 km / 125 mile range before you need to recharge your body

 

[Golfer04]

I really appreciate the responses and insight being contributed here. As a first time Rivian owner, this is very helpful info. I decided to proceed with a Gen 1 R1T dual max and just see how it goes!! I've seen the negative comments about the max battery option and its value, however, as a first time EV owners and first time Rivian owner, this just gives me the extra peace of mind the quell my concerns enough to move forward into one. For charging, I plan to have level 2 charging installed at home and work. I realize it's going to be a big adjustment from the F150 especially going from having 700 miles of range to ~320 ish, but I also understand the expectations need to change. My biggest concern is staying comfortable on the super cold days when on the highway and having the range to make it without too much inconvenience. I love the EV drivetrain and instant torque and am looking forward to experiencing that part soon and I hope the compromises will be worth it for all the good points.

If you are concerned with range don't get the 20inch stock Pirelli tires. In my experience they are bad for efficiency and worse in cold weather/snow. If you do end up with them immediately switch to the Michelin CrossClimate (my favorite) or Dueler (other's fav). The CC has excellent tread wear, is 3 peak rated and conservatively 10 percent more efficient than the stock Pirelli AT tires. In EVs tires are a BIG deal in efficiency.

Sponsored