8 Features That Make the Rivian R1T the Perfect EV for a Mountain Adventure
The Rivian R1T is one of the most capable electric vehicles you could buy, especially if you love going on adventures in your EV. The R1T’s all-wheel drive system, as well as the inherent high-altitude benefits of electric vehicles (they don’t require oxygen to run), make the R1T your ideal companion for tackling your favorite mountain road.
Let’s explore some features that make the R1T the ultimate vehicle for a mountain adventure!
1. Torque Vectoring Quad-Motor All-Wheel Drive
All Rivian R1T models have all-wheel drive, which means that you’ll enjoy the benefits of torque at all four wheels. There is plenty of adjustability thanks to the various driving modes, which tailor the power delivery to facilitate progress in different environments. This is true whether you opt for the dual- or quad-motor variants, although the latter has four additional off-road modes that further expand its capability.
The quad-motor-equipped R1T can send torque to each individual wheel, and this allows a degree of control and torque distribution that the dual-motor cannot match. No matter how difficult the trail gets, you’ll feel secure (even going up a mountain road). Thanks to Rivian’s advanced torque vectoring system present in quad-motor vehicles, the system can help counter the unwanted effects of oversteer and understeer, making the R1T a very confidence-inspiring vehicle.
2. Adjustable Air Suspension
No matter where your mountain adventure takes you, you can breathe easy knowing that your R1T is equipped with great tools to tackle any kind of situation. One of these features is its standard air suspension, which allows the R1T to raise or lower its ride height by 6.5 inches.
This means the vehicle can get nice and low for on-road driving with improved stability and aerodynamics, but it can also increase its ground clearance, up to 14.9 inches, when you need to get over tricky obstacles.
The R1T’s Drive Modes work in conjunction with the air suspension to tailor your ride for whatever type of surface you’re on.
3. Off-Road Tires
When considering a vehicle’s capability in difficult conditions, the conversation tends to shift rather quickly towards all-wheel drive (and whether the vehicle in question has it or not). But tires are just as important when it comes to grip in various scenarios, especially during the winter months when winter tires are essential for proper footing.
The R1T can optionally be equipped with 275/65/R20 Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tires that are 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) certified and are 34 inches in diameter. These tires are great for most adventures, and you can order them from Rivian (with 20" aluminum wheels) for $5,300.
4. Extended-Range Battery
Going on an adventure up a mountain involves a lot of planning, especially in an electric vehicle. The last thing you want is to find yourself stranded in a cold environment because your EV ran out of juice.
The R1T Dual Motor (and Dual Motor Performance) can be optioned with a Max Pack extended-range battery that promises up to 400 miles of range (depending on wheel and tire configuration). That’s an amazing range number that should help relieve some of the range anxiety you might experience when planning your escape into the wilderness.
The only downside is that Rivian doesn’t offer the Max Pack battery on the quad-motor, top-of-the-line R1T.
5. DC Fast Charging
The R1T can provide up to 400 miles of range with the optional long-range battery pack, and charging it is also a breeze thanks to the truck’s 400-volt architecture. It allows charging speeds of up to 200 kW, which will add 140 miles of range to the battery in around 30 minutes of charging.
Rivian is also building its own charging network called the Rivian Adventure Network. The plan is to install 3,500+ chargers in 600 sites, which will provide Rivian owners with chargers in places where traditional charging providers might not have an established presence, like during your journey up a mountain road’s scenic route. Many of these chargers are being installed around national parks and near known trails frequented by off-road enthusiasts.
Rivian will also be adopting Tesla’s charging standardfrom 2025 on, so its customers will have access tothe vast Supercharger network, which is also considered the best.
6. Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) Capabilities
One ofthe biggest benefits of electric vehiclesover traditional cars is that you can draw electricity from the vehicle’s battery to power whatever you want (as long as it’s within the manufacturer’s recommendations). The R1T has four 120-volt power outlets that you can use to run your camping gear.
One of the power outlets is located in the cabin, and there’s one in the Gear Tunnel (used to power the Camp Kitchen), along with two in the bed. How cool is it that you can power your electronics or power tools conveniently from the bed of your truck?
The Rivian can’t compete with the Ford F-150 Lightning’s bidirectional charging capabilities becausethe Blue Oval’s electric pickup can even power your homewith its battery, and the R1T cannot. The Ford also offers a 240V outlet, which is not something you can specify on the Rivian.
7. Front Trunk
A front trunk is a feature that is becoming increasingly important for EV shoppers, and you’ll be happy to know that the R1T includes a spacious front trunk that can hold 11.1 cubic feet of cargo. This means that you’ll have no trouble finding room for all of your bags when packing for that mountain adventure, especially considering that the front trunk is powered and will protect your precious items from anything nature will throw at you during your journey.
The front trunk features convenient LED lights as well as a 12V power supply. It would have been nice to see Rivian include conventional 120-volt home-style power outlets in the frunk, but it’s not a dealbreaker considering that you can find those in the bed of the truck.
8. Camp Kitchen
Rivian discontinued the Camp Kitchen (a revised version is slated to be offered in the future), but if you were lucky enough to purchase an R1T equipped with it, you’ll know it’s the perfect companion for a day of adventuring up your favorite mountain.
The Camp Kitchen slides right out of the Gear Tunnel, which means it’s super convenient to use and will hide out of sight once no longer needed. It came fully equipped, and apart from the mandatory bits like the induction stove, it also features a very unexpected surprise: a sink! That’s right, you can cook and do the dishes on the fly courtesy of Rivian’s $5,000 Camp Kitchen.
The R1T Is the Ultimate Adventure Vehicle
The R1T is one of the most capable vehicles you’re able to buy, and even though the quad-motor option makes it even more so, the dual-motor versions should be more than enough for most buyers' needs.
With awesome features like a built-in kitchen and a versatile air suspension system, the R1T is the perfect vehicle for an all-day adventure up your favorite mountain road. The fact that it’s also one of the best EV pickup trucks for sale is just icing on the cake.
If you’re in the market for a new truck, these EV pickups could be just what you’re looking for.
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