Rivian Automotive Inc, a California-based EV manufacturer listed on NASDAQ as RIVN, has revealed two new battery options for its electric truck and SUV. The company’s aim is to make their vehicles more accessible to a wider consumer base, especially those who previously found the price points of their vehicles out of reach.
The New Battery Options: Rivian’s standard battery will provide a 270-mile range on the dual-motor all-wheel drive R1T or R1S. The newly introduced Standard+ battery will push this range to 315 miles, as per information available on the company’s website.
The standard battery is included in the base cost of the vehicle, while the Standard+ option is available for an additional $3,100. This pricing compares favorably to the Large and Max battery packs, which are priced at $9,100 and $19,100, respectively.
The new battery options are expected to significantly reduce the overall cost of owning these vehicles, with starting prices for the R1T and R1S standing at about $70,000. The R1T is priced at $69,900 in the U.S., while the R1S is priced at $74,900.
Drive System and Battery Compatibility: However, it’s noteworthy that certain battery options are not compatible with every drive system choice. Rivian offers three drive systems – dual-motor, performance dual-motor, and quad-motor. For instance, the quad-motor drive system is only compatible with the large battery pack, offering approximately 352 miles of range. On the other hand, the dual-motor drive system allows the selection of any of the four battery options, including the Max pack which boasts over 400 miles of range.
Battery Chemistry: Rivian has adopted an NCA (Lithium-Nickel, Cobalt, Aluminum) battery cell chemistry for the new battery packs and has announced its intention to introduce a Lithium iron phosphate or LFP battery for its standard pack later this year.
EV Tax Credit: Rivian has stated that customers may be eligible for a federal tax credit of $3,750 upon purchasing vehicles with the new battery options. However, it’s important to note that the official government source for fuel economy information, Fuel economy, is yet to list them as eligible for any EV purchase tax credit.
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