Tesla will be the software program king, however Rivian is rising as the brand new underdog the trade is more and more taking note of.
A number of weeks in the past, Rivian inked a take care of the Volkswagen Group to license its software program and electrical structure. Lately, the startup additionally launched big upgrades to the second era R1S and R1T. A kind of upgrades included including a lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack for the bottom model, dramatically bettering its charging instances.
Why charging speeds matter
Charging an EV takes extra time than refueling a fuel automotive. It is as a result of discharging electrons from a charging station at a excessive voltage, persistently and safely, is not any simple job. Nevertheless, charging corporations, battery makers and automakers are discovering methods to hurry up the method.
InsideEVs’ pal and EV knowledgeable Kyle Conner, the host of the YouTube channel Out of Spec Opinions, had the chance to research the charging curve of the 2025 Rivian R1S twice this month. He did that earlier than and after the brand new R1S obtained a software program replace. What he discovered was charging instances considerably improved after the software program replace and concluded that the usual battery can be the “candy spot” for many consumers.
Battery well being and knowledge start-up Recurrent says that LFP chemistry affords main benefits over conventional nickel-manganese-cobalt packs. That features extra sturdiness and a better working voltage, value benefits in uncooked materials sourcing and manufacturing, omission of conflicted supplies like cobalt and slower degradation. There are some downsides, although. They embody decrease vitality density, decrease vary and slower charging in winter. However a number of EVs, together with the rear-wheel-drive Tesla Mannequin 3, use LFP packs as the benefits can largely outweigh the drawbacks in sure use circumstances.
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When Conner first plugged the brand new R1S into the Alpitronic Hypercharger 400, it took about 1 hour and quarter-hour to go from 0-100%. Rivian not too long ago pushed a software program replace and that has diminished that charging time by about quarter-hour, Conner stated. Going from flat to 100% in just below an hour means the bottom R1S is now the quickest charging trim.
Through the charging take a look at, the R1S reached a peak charging price of 218 kilowatts, holding over 200 kW between 5-25%. Then it started tapering at round 40%. What’s spectacular is that it may add roughly 90 miles of vary in quarter-hour. A minimum of theoretically, that ought to make it a reasonably good road-tripping companion. Within the vary take a look at, it delivered about 240 miles on the freeway, about 30 miles lower than Rivian’s claimed vary of 270 miles in combined metropolis and freeway driving. It has a usable battery capability of 92.5 kilowatt hours.
By comparability, the primary era Rivian R1T and R1S charged from 10-80% in about 40-45 minutes in InsideEVs testing. Charging speeds slowed considerably after the 80% mark. Early launch version fashions with the massive 128.1 kWh pack charged from 10-90% in 72 minutes in Automotive and Driver testing.
