Rivian updates website: Two 12v outlets now (none in frunk) for R1T

[R1Sky Business]

Flashlight will be back, supply chain issues but the new version will only emit light with an all-black colorway.

Soon it will require 4 AAA batteries

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[itselectric]

Yeah but finding a bunch of different $1 savings adds up once you are making 100k vehicles. One less outlet here, a magnet there, single molded part instead of needing 10 screws and bolts, etc etc. knock $100 off the total cost and over 100k vehicles you just saved $10m dollars.
I would obviously prefer they start with efficiencies that don’t impact the user, but I understand and respect the intent.

But why now? Why wasn't this done before deliveries began? Or it could wait for the next model year, for example... But why now? Seems weird.

My guess is part availability of some kind. I can't imagine they make this random change this early on unless it was a part problem. Could be completely wrong.

 

[crashmtb]

Lean Design... do you really need that front 12V outlet? Do you really need that flashlight in the door? You only really need one gear tunnel door right?, etc.....

Let's hope they don't start stripping away more and more over time.

FWIW.. I have a 12V powered hydraulic jack I use to rotate tires... I was intending to use that 12V frunk outlet to power the jack

It’s probably more like “we can’t get the extra bit of harness/enough 12v sockets”

 

[astonius]

Regarding communication: I don't think it's fair to expect Rivian to send out an email to it's customers everytime a minor detail is changed.

Who gets to decide what’s “minor”? For you and me this may be minor, but others might have already bought a 12v fridge to fit in the frunk.

 

[SANZC02]

Who gets to decide what’s “minor”? For you and me this may be minor, but others might have already bought a 12v fridge to fit in the frunk.

This is on the very first page of the manual….

 

[astonius]

This is on the very first page of the manual….

No one is arguing this point. The issue we’re debating is the lack of communication on the removal, not the removal itself.

 

[HimuraMOdo]

Refrigerated tub in the front seems like the best feature ever. That's not one to avoid; it's marketing heaven.

If it's a matter of trying to avoid condensation or drippage on what's below, I would think that a waterproof bottom and a properly routed drain hose would be a better answer.

I say this without having looked at it; just spitballing here.

I’m not sure if this is actually a good idea to have a 12V refrigerator in the frunk. The frunk is quite air tight so any heat generated by the fridge will not be dissipated soon enough so the fridge will just keeps on running nonstop. Has anyone actually try and use a fridge in the frunk?

 

[pc500]

My guess is there was a practical reason they removed this beyond saving $2 of wiring and parts. I don't know if we'll ever know what that was.

 

[bummin]

In case there was any doubt. My 119xx VIN did not have the frunk 12v outlet and it looks like they won't moving forward. No big deal for me personally I would have never used it but hopefully not too disappointing for others.

I did not spot any additional changes to the text on the R1T landing page.

I have 10414 and my 12v outlet is present in frunk.

 

[connoisseurr]

VIN 11919 and no 12V outlet. But I do have some good news... the wiring is there. It's bundled with the right LED frunk light. Looks like whatever connector they used was cut off (or yanked off, as bare copper strands were exposed) and "protected" with electrical tape. Probably the most shotty work I've seen in a brand new (modern) car

Anyway, here are some photos showing available wiring. This is good for us without the 12V outlet, as we can now use something like this or this, and mount as it was from the factory, or mount it on the frunk tub vertically.

PHOTOS

 

[zipzag]

My guess is there was a practical reason they removed this beyond saving $2 of wiring and parts. I don't know if we'll ever know what that was.

Running a fridge in the trunk is a fire hazard. Refrigerators are heat exchangers and not designed for enclosed spaces.

 

[camaroz1985]

f...g Munro guy told them and they took his advice. While the old fart might not have a need for 12v in the front, i did plan on using the frunk on my inflatable standup paddle board (SUP) and an electric pump. their air hose plugs are not meant for SUP design--i asked.

Don't forget there is one in the gear tunnel as well (at least for now). I use the 12V for the same reason.

 

[Attesan997]

VIN 11919 and no 12V outlet. But I do have some good news... the wiring is there. It's bundled with the right LED frunk light. Looks like whatever connector they used was cut off (or yanked off, as bare copper strands were exposed) and "protected" with electrical tape. Probably the most shotty work I've seen in a brand new (modern) car

Anyway, here are some photos showing available wiring. This is good for us without the 12V outlet, as we can now use something like this or this, and mount as it was from the factory, or mount it on the frunk tub vertically.

By how hastily this was done I'd hope there was some reason beyond cost savings, if the wiring is still there and someone had to cut or adjust it after is there really a major savings in the plastic molding and bits of metal? Wouldn't the extra handling and electrical tape offset any savings?

 

[AO_Pete]

The wiring will be there until they update the harness, which is always the last piece of the puzzle as they make construction more efficient. Tesla has done as well, many times, it starts with the wires basically being cut, as here, then they'll be correctly terminated, then they'll eventually vanish from the harness at the next revision.

I respect what Sandy does, I would not attribute a lot of the feature cutbacks in Tesla to him. For example, Elon has something against ambient lighting. Every other manufacturer has it, Tesla barely does. Munro is all about finding efficiencies without cheapening the product, he is an owner like us, after all. The single magnet makes sense. Switching out the trim magnets for clips makes sense. Removing the 12V socket really doesn't (to me), there's obvious utility in having in there, and the parts are dirt cheap and seems very unlikely a commodity product like that would be supply-constrained.

I agree that decent comms would help a lot in this - Tesla doesn't do it, and customers don't like it. If RJ or someone just came out with something explaining the rationale the changes, then it would make the world of difference. There will be good reasons for all of it, it's just not always obvious to us. For all we know, that 12V socket took 30 mins in assembly and was plugged in backwards 30% of the time (Munro is a bit proponent of poka yoke).

 

[timf]

I took delivery of my R1S #750 today and do not have the frunk outlet.

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