Rivian makes its largest battery yet, a 180-kilowatt-hour pack called the Max Pack, which was first used on its R1S SUV.
Previously limited to the R1T pickup truck, the Max Pack battery can now be ordered on the R1S for fall delivery.
Like the R1T, the Max Pack on the R1S can only be configured with a dual-motor powertrain. The R1S has an available four-motor powertrain, although this option exclusively offers a large 135-kWh battery pack.
Rivian says it plans to offer an enhanced four-motor powertrain for the Max Pack at a later date, though only the R1T with this configuration has been mentioned so far.
Rivian R1S
The company says it will provide an update on how customers with R1S pre-orders can update it to the Max Pack. It didn’t say how much the Max Pack for the R1S would cost, but the company says customers who order this battery option can expect a range of up to 390 miles for the R1S and 400 miles for the R1T.
The R1S has a claimed range of 340 miles (350 miles for the R1T), compared to 260 miles for the 105 kwh Standard Package (270 miles for the R1T).
Rivian is also preparing a performance upgrade to the dual-motor powertrain in the R1S and R1T. The software tweaks are expected to boost output to around 700 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque, compared to the current rating of 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet. Rivian says the performance upgrade will cut the dual-motor model’s 0-60 mph time from 4.5 seconds to 3.5 seconds.
In an investor update on Tuesday, Rivian said it managed to build 24,337 vehicles in 2022, the automaker’s first full year of production but one plagued by supply chain issues. Rivian said the problems will persist through 2023, but expects to more than double production this year to 50,000 vehicles.