Move over Quad-Motor, the Dual-Motor Rivian R1 EVs have the makings to be something special
Since Rivian began R1T pickup production in 2021, I’ve been trying to get behind the doors of its facility in my native Illinois and only managed to get arrested for trespassing once (kidding). Last week, I finally got a chance to tour the revamped EV plant and test drive the new Dual-Motor R1 vehicles featuring Rivian’s new Enduro drive unit and I’ve gotta say – it begs the question, “Do you really need the Quad-Motor?”
The R1T pickup kicked off Rivian’s official venture into passenger vehicles before being joined by an SUV sibling called the R1S. Combined with the Amazon EDV and Rivian Service Van (RSV), the young American EV automaker has plenty to keep its assembly lines humming.
After some growing pains, Rivian appears to have finally hit its stride in Normal, Illinois with the help of its Enduro drive unit – designed and engineered in house specifically for Dual-Motor Vehicles. Enduro consists of a 3-in-1 fully-integrated system of rotor, stator, and inverter all-in-one housing (see explosion image below). It also has a dynamic disconnect feature within the drive unit that can automatically switch to Single-Motor mode to maximize range.
By May, we were reporting that Enduro had begun being implemented in R1T and R1S Dual-Motor reservations. Because Rivian outsourced its motors for the Quad configurations from Bosch, which rolled out to customer first, the Dual-Motor came with a lot of hype because of its lower cost and the automaker’s promise it “does everything for most customers.” I won’t disagree.
Rivian began inviting customers to begin ordering the Dual-Motor configuration in July, and last week, we got the invite to take a Dual-Motor R1T out on the the automaker’s First Mile Adventure Test Track (see map below) to test out its speed on the road and its capabilities on rough terrain.
Rivian’s Dual-Motor R1 EVs sacrifice very little
Rivian is onto something with the Dual-Motor options powered by Enduro, and it knows it. Before I took my full tour of the Normal facility, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe spoke to our group about some of the technology we would see and experience during our visit, including the Dual-Motors.
When we got to Rivian’s delivery experience center, when reservations can visit in Normal and pick up their EV in person, I was the lucky first to go out on the track. The trip was short and simple – two laps around the loop, then a trip around the adventure path complete with rough road, a dry creek bed, two tilted turns and a pretty intimidating uphill climb.
The first pass was decent, I took the turn a bit timid but then saw the 70 mph signs on the straightaway and opened it up – what a rush. 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds (Performance OTA upgrade) is quite impressive for an EV on this size, but I immediately got comfortable and hit the second turn quite a bit faster with zero issues of not keeping the shiny side upright.
Once I got to the second straightaway, it was time for a complete stop and a launch. I was not disappointed. The higher gear ratio in the rear motor (13.7:1) compared to 11:1 up front helped distribute torque continuously yet biased rearward for better performance.
When it came to the adventure park, I am not the most seasoned off-roader, but I’d imagine most Rivian customers aren’t. Switching drive modes into All-Terrain mode, the R1T took everything I threw at it. I even got an A+ rating on my hill climb skills. Here’s what it looks like from the bottom:
… and here’s a video of one of the Dual-Motors coming down the other side of the hill after the climb.
For comparison, I then got to take the same route in a Quad-Motor R1T. To be honest, the acceleration was indeed slightly better, but I’d argue it would not be noticeable to the average consumer. The Quad version also handled the terrain better, especially the hill climb since it can rely on motors in each wheel to propel forward instead of the brakes like in the Dual-Motor.
Still, unless you’re attempting to scale Rubicon, the Dual-Motor Rivians should do just fine for you. At the end of the day, I think most people are going to gravitate toward the Dual-Motor option and Rivian knows it. I think everyone wins. Consumers save money and still get the performance they want plus the range desire depending on waht battery pack they choose, and Rivian sells more cars. It has plenty of space to scale in Normal, not to mention that giant new planty being erected in Georgia.
I think the Quad-Motor R1 EVs will go to those truly into off-roading and carving their own path in the outdoors, that’s the only reason you’d really need a motor in each wheel in my opinion. I think we’ll also see people springing for the Quad-Motor simply since its top of the line and enables bragging rights. Nothing wrong with that if you’ve got the extra cheddar, I just don’t think that way personally – the Dual Motor feels like the sweet spot now that I’ve driven both.
Enduro was exciting to learn about as well, especially since it’s essentially the heart of Rivian’s future platforms that will power the R2 models in a few years.
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On today’s battle-ready episode of Quick Charge, it’s Elon Musk vs. the world as big players position themselves for control of enough lithium to build 600 million electric cars and the rest of the industry squares up to Tesla in the battle for market leadership.
While Windrose is making sales and expanding into new markets, the Tesla Semi is still in limited tests, Robotaxi launches as a “ride hailing service” in California with randos in the drivers’ seat and Academy Award nominated actor/noted college football analyst Timothée Chalamet teams up with Lucid to steal (even more) sales from the embattled Model S and X lines.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec, the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure. Quick Charge listeners can get 10% off their next e-bike ride through August 14 with the exclusive code ELECTREK10 only at retrospec.com.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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EV charging company ezVOLTz has partnered with Driivz, the EV software arm of Vontier, to make its “Charging as a Service” platform even smarter and more reliable for fleets, businesses, and state and local governments across the US.
If you’re not familiar with ezVOLTz, it’s a full-service EV charging provider. It handles everything, from installing hardware-agnostic chargers to managing the backend with its software platform, ezCONNECT. Now, ezVOLTz is plugging into Driivz’s charging and energy management tech to help run things even more smoothly.
With Driivz’s help, ezVOLTz plans to keep its network humming with 24/7 monitoring and real-time issue detection. Driivz’s Alert Management System can auto-fix up to 80% of charger hiccups remotely without sending a tech on-site. That means more uptime and fewer headaches for drivers and site owners.
“EV adoption is surging, and drivers and the companies and entities that serve them need smart, connected, and reliable charging options,” said ezVOLTz CEO Sam Malhotra. “The Driivz team and their smart charging and energy management solutions are a natural fit in bolstering our services.”
The partnership also gives ezVOLTz new tools to grow its network. Driivz’s software tracks usage patterns and charger performance, helping pinpoint the best spots for new installations. Driivz will also support the ezVOLTz app, letting users plan road trips and find chargers nationwide.
“Reliability and ease-of-use are two of the most important considerations for EV drivers,” said Andrew Bennett, CEO of Driivz. “We’re proud to partner with ezVOLTz in delivering seamless and reliable charging to their customers.”
As more businesses, fleets, and municipalities plug into EVs, partnerships like this one aim to make sure the charging experience keeps up.
Read more: Driivz expands in the US EV charging market with a new HQ
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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The Subaru BRZ may live on as an EV after all. Subaru wants its share of the sports car market, and an electric BRZ could hit the sweet spot.
Is Subaru launching an electric BRZ?
Subaru discontinued the BRZ in Europe in 2020 after the first generation. Although its twin, the Toyota GR86, was sold until the 2024 model year, the BRZ was released as a US-only model.
In its third generation, it could return as an EV. Speaking with Autocar, Subaru’s European head, David Dello Stritto, said, “Our options are open,” hinting that the BRZ could make a comeback in electric form.
Subaru’s global EV product boss, Inoue Masahiko, confirmed an electric version of the sports car “was under consideration.” He added that Subaru has extensively looked into an EV version of the BRZ with its partner, Toyota.
Masahiko explained that “We did consider electrifying the BRZ and GR86, but the win-win relationship is more important.” So far, “We can’t get the kind of benefits from both sides,” he added.
Subaru is already launching several new electric vehicles in Europe, including the new Uncharted, E-Outback (known as Trailseeker in the US), and an updated Solterra SUV.
Stritto said that an electric sports car will depend on the success of these models first, especially the Uncharted. According to Subaru’s European boss, the Japanese automaker feels “very positively about Subaru enthusiasts, but we need to see how Uncharted does first.”
As for an “electrified” powertrain, or hybrid, Masahiko said the vehicle’s packaging “would make it difficult,” adding an EV version would be “easier” to create.
The comments come after Stritto told Autocar last week that a new entry-level EV could also be in the works. However, that will also depend on how well the Uncharted sells.
For those in the US, don’t worry – Subaru is not planning to discontinue the BRZ. If it did launch as an EV, would you consider one? It would go up against the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
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