The biggest Rivian battery pack, dubbed the Max pack, is now getting into manufacturing, however with much less capability than authentic mentioned.

When it introduced the Max pack about two years in the past, Rivian talked about a gross capability of 180 kwh. However this previous week, Rivian confirmed to Automotive and Driver that it is largest pack has a gross capability of simply 149 kwh.

Since then, Rivian has additionally confirmed that quantity to Inexperienced Automotive Experiences in addition to one thing maybe much more significant: why it isn’t 180 kwh.

Rivian R1T, inexperienced, vs. Rivian R1S, silver

In brief: The Max pack makes use of a brand new battery cell, in the identical type issue utilized by Rivian’s 135-kwh Massive pack and with out gaining mass—so with its better efficiencies it might actually be definitely worth the $10,000 premium.

“This effectivity was reached by our engineers who developed a proprietary battery administration system that optimizes and will increase the usable battery vitality from a brand new model of our 2170 battery cell with superior chemistry that enables for each greater vitality density and better absolute vitality,” defined Rivian, in a response supplied to Inexperienced Automotive Experiences. “That is as a substitute of including extra cells or modules to an current battery pack, which might add extra mass to the car itself.

Rivian on Friday once more confirmed that the overall (gross) capability of its Massive pack is 135 kwh. Usable capability, Rivian has emphasised up to now, might differ over time because it improves the electrical vans’ efficiency and effectivity by way of over-the-air updates.

“Our autos’ vary is pushed by many components throughout vitality storage, drive unit effectivity, aerodynamics, and extra,” stated a Rivian spokesperson to Inexperienced Automotive Experiences Friday, in response to a question about present usable capability. “As , we enhance car software program via over-the-air updates, that means we proceed to optimize car effectivity and vary no matter when a buyer takes supply of their Rivian.”

Extra miles per kwh for Max pack?

With out understanding usable capability—and assuming it is about the identical ratio of the pack capability as for the Massive pack—that means the Max pack fashions are literally getting higher effectivity and extra miles per kwh.

The Max pack is obtainable in each the R1T electrical pickup truck and R1S SUV, however solely with the recently-launched Twin-Motor powertrain. As revealed not too long ago, the Max pack R1T and R1S have been EPA-rated at 410 miles and 400 miles respectively. Twin-Motor vans with the Massive pack have been not too long ago rated at as much as 352 miles.

2023 Rivian R1T

Permitting that three-row, 400-mile R1S Max pack

Deliveries of R1T Max pack fashions are already underway; R1S Max pack deliveries are scheduled to start out later this fall—with its third row and cargo areas now seemingly not impacted by the Max pack.

That wasn’t initially the case. Earlier on in these vans’ gestation, Rivian had advised that packaging on Max pack R1S variations could be a bit totally different and forgo the three-row format. 

Rivian has from the beginning used a special thermal technique than different EV makers—permitting it to bundle extra vitality into much less house. And it is supplied a battery guarantee that beats Tesla and different EVs.

Now it is clear they don’t seem to be performed with these concepts and the longest-range vans might symbolize improved thermal engineering. There’s absolutely extra backstory to but to return.

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with extra reporting by Bengt Halvorson