Rivian (RIVN) is dropping a shift at its Normal EV plant due to efficiency upgrades
Rivian (RIVN) is dropping a shift at its Normal, Illinois, EV manufacturing plant next month, but not because of a lack of demand. The EV maker said it could hit its 2024 production goal with one less shift due to efficiency upgrades at the facility.
Rivian plant to lose a shift with efficient EV production
“With our continued improvements in efficiency, we can meet that (57,000) goal on two shifts,” a Rivian spokesperson told WLGT Tuesday.
About 8,000 people work at Rivian’s manufacturing plant, the majority of them hourly employees. The spokesperson clarified, “All hourly employees will be offered a job on one of the two available shifts as we will increase capacity per shift.”
Rivian is reducing its three-shift schedule to two starting April 28. Although it’s unclear if the workers’ hours will change, they will still be considered full-time.
The spokesperson said Rivian “gave hourly employees the opportunity to provide feedback regarding shift patterns and to submit their own shift preference.” Rivian is “assigning shifts based on tenure, preference and operational needs.”
Rivian’s shift change is not out of the ordinary. Automakers often move around shifts to improve efficiency.
The third shift was added in June 2023, after Rivian added a second shift in Fall 2022. The change will be implemented following the scheduled plant shutdown in April.
Rivian will introduce its highly-anticipated R2 electric SUV on Thursday, March 7. Leaked info through the company’s website shows the R2 will start at $47,000 with up to 330 miles range. Rivian’s R2 will also launch in Europe.
Electrek’s Take
As Rivian announced in November, the planned shutdown will allow for new engineering and supplier changes to lower costs. Rivian expects the upgrades will “meaningfully reduce” material costs as it exits 2024.
With the upgrades, Rivian expects a “modest growth profit” in Q4 2024. Due to the scheduled shutdown, the EV maker expects to build around 57,000 vehicles at the plant in 2024, about the same as last year.
Rivian has already accomplished a ton, with its R1S electric SUV becoming the best-selling electric SUV priced over $70,000 in the US last year.
Rivian was the fifth best-selling EV maker in the US last year. After establishing itself as a true luxury EV brand, Rivian’s more affordable R2 will help it reach new markets.
Source: WGLT
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Environment
Trump halts wind projects, including Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Dominion stock drops 5%
Thanks to a clever, fully electric swing system and “boom up” power assist features, the big PC365-11 hybrid excavator from Komatsu promises better performance and serious fuel savings compared to conventional diesel machines.
Komatsu says its PC365-11 hybrid excavator uses a “boom-up” power assist feature that captures and stores kinetic energy during different operation cycles, then taps into that power to provide an extra energy boost when needed. The result is 15% more productivity and a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency when compared to non-hybrid excavators in ~40 ton class.
“The PC365LC-11 was engineered for excellence in multifunction applications by leveraging its innovative electric powertrain system to boost job site productivity while reducing fuel consumption,” says Matthew Moen, Komatsu’s product manager. “To highlight these performance enhancements, we’re emphasizing the concept of ‘multifunction plus’ as the defining feature of this machine.”
How it works
Komatsu’s hybrid system replaces the conventional hydraulic swing function with a fully electric swing motor that draws power from an ultracapacitor (as opposed to a battery) energy storage unit. As excavator slows or stops swinging, something like a regenerative braking system captures the kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat and stores it in the capacitor. Once there, the stored energy can be quickly released to power the swing motor or assist the engine, delivering up to an extra 70 hp when needed to support heavy lifting or digging cycles.
And, thanks to Komatsu’s proprietary software, all of this energy capture and reuse happens automagically during normal work, without the need for external charging. The fuel savings happen because removing the hydraulic load from the ICE engine allows it to run at an ultra-low idle, while the productivity comes from the greater power and overall speed of the electric operations vs. conventional hydraulics.
Electrek’s Take
Trust me when I tell you that Komatsu didn’t wake up one day and decide to build a capacitor-based hybrid crane. One of their customers had the idea and came to them, promising orders. That’s what Komatsu does – from undersea remote control dozers to lunar mining rigs (above), if you bring Komatsu an order, they will absolutely find a way to fill it.
As for PC365-11 hybrid excavator, it’s packed with clever tech, overall – offering significant fuel, emissions, and TCO reductions without dramatically changing the operational logistics of an existing fleet’s operations. That’s all the sales pitch it needs.
SOURCE: Komatsu, via Equipment World.
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For serious fleet buyers, safety isn’t a “nice-to-have,” it’s an absolute must – and Kia’s new PV5 electric van meets that need with a positively stellar, five-star safety rating on the tough European NCAP safety test.
The new “do-it-all” Kia PV5 showed strong performance across a number of key safety categories, including Occupant Protection, Safety Assist/Crash Avoidance, and Post-Crash Safety. The PV5’s robust suite of standard ADAS technologies that includes AEB, Lane Support System, and Speed Assistance System also helped the new electric work van to deliver top marks in the NCAP’s “real world” test scenarios.
“The PV5 opens a new chapter in practical, electrified mobility, offering generous space and modular versatility for everyday use,” explains Sangdae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the (relatively) new PBV Business Division at Kia. “Achieving the top Euro NCAP five-star rating is clear validation of its safety performance and will serve as strong momentum as Kia expands its PBV lineup across Europe.”
The Euro NCAP tests highlighted the strong performance of a number of the PV5’s ADAS features, specifically calling out the following:
- Demonstrated strong responsiveness in vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios
- Provides additional protection for pedestrians behind the vehicle
- Avoided collisions in most pedestrian and cyclist test cases
The Kia PV5 slots into familiar territory for US buyers, landing roughly in the same size class as the Ford Transit Connect or Ram ProMaster City, with ~180 cubic feet of interior cargo space available, which is plenty to make it attractive for last-mile delivery and trade work in tight urban markets.
Globally, the PV5 is offered with a number of battery options, including a smaller 43.3 kWh Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) pack, as well as larger Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) packs at 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh. The longest-range versions are good for about 250 miles of estimated range – more than enough for Kia to make a case for it as a practical, city-focused alternative to much larger (and pricier) electric vans.
Larger vans, by the way, that may not have that 5 star Euro NCAP rating.
Kia PV5
SOURCE | IMAGES: Kia; photo by Scooter Doll.
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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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