New American all-electric pickup has sports-car acceleration, plenty of range
U.S. electric vehicle startup Rivian took the covers off its first vehicle, the R1T pickup, on Nov. 26, showing off a truck with a futuristic esthetic, a front trunk and sportscar-grade performance numbers, ahead of a full reveal at the L.A. auto show. The company, based in Plymouth, Michigan, says the R1T can go from zero to 96 km/h in 3.0 seconds, thanks to a claimed 826 poundfeet of torque. It offers 640 km of electric range when ordered with the largest 180-kWh battery pack. Two more sizes of battery pack are available: a 135-kWh unit delivering 480 km of range, and as an entry-level option, a 105-kWh battery with a 370-km range. The batteries are located within a skateboard-like structure that makes up the frame of the vehicle, which means the bed and “frunk” (where the engine usually sits) offer unobstructed real estate for more storage than most trucks. (The front trunk, for example, is said to hold up to 330 litres.) A 350-L pass-through runs the length of the vehicle under the seats, making it ideal for hauling long pieces of lumber, or skis. The interior looks like it’s from the future, with cell-like shapes stitched into the seats and ribbed accents along the dashboard flanking the large touch screens. The R1T also looks like it might have enough leg room to fit four adults in its crew-cab configuration. The entry-level Rivian R1T will cost US$61,500. Deliveries of the 180-kWh version will commence in late 2020, with others to follow.