Documents released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have revealed some previously-unknown details about the Rivian R1T and R1S.
The documents from EPA tests were uncovered by the Rivian Owners Forum and confirm that the two Rivian models do not feature an electric heat pump. That’s an interesting omission as all current Tesla models feature heat pumps, as does the Lucid Air.
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A heat pump for an electric vehicle can perform a host of different functions. In the Tesla Model Y, for example, it can extract heat from the ambient air, the battery system, and the drivetrain. It is particularly beneficial in extremely cold temperatures and can be used to pre-warm the battery cells.
The EPA documents also reveals that the R1T can charge at up to 210 kW. Many car manufacturers proudly boast about the charging speeds of their EVs but this is a figure Rivian has kept quiet, instead stating that the R1T can be topped up with 140 miles (225 km) of range in 20 minutes through a 200 kW charger. A key reason why the R1T doesn’t offer 350 kW charging like the GMC Hummer EV and Hyundai Ioniq 5 is that it has a 400-volt, rather than an 800-volt, system.
An over-the-air software update is said to be in the works that will unlock 300 kW charging.
It has also been revealed that the R1T tips the scale at 6,949 pounds (3,152 kg), while the R1S SUV weighs in at 6,916 (3,137 kg) pounds.
With production of the Rivian R1T underway, the automaker went public in early November. It currently has a market cap of over $101 billion.
