We recently heard Indiana Police Department say it’ll update its fleet with Tesla Model 3s. Not to mention, when law enforcement agencies purchase vehicles, it is generally in big numbers. To make sure Tesla doesn’t penetrate deep into this target market and bags all the potential future orders, Rivian has come up with a solution that is aimed at the convenience of the police officers.
The automaker has developed an unusual design for its seats that makes it comfortable for them to sit and drive around when carrying their guns and weapon gear. Will this be enough to convince the agencies to consider Rivian vehicles to replace their current fleet?
How Are Rivian's Seats Designed to Accomodate Police Officers?t
The news leaked back in October 2019, but it is finally official. Rivian has made an unusual design for its seats that is comfortable to sit on when carrying the necessary equipment. The seat has been invented by the company’s three long-term designers - James Frye, David Schneider, and Jared Odle.
This will allow the officers to sit with ease since the holsters and other gear won’t cause them discomfort. It will also make ingress and egress easier when they are equipped. Not to mention, a cop car is loaded with a lot of equipment that eats into the cabin space available at their disposal. This setup should make things easy in that aspect as well. This is how the company explains the whole design:
“Law enforcement officers typically carry weapons and other tools that may be attached to their belts or otherwise carried on their bodies. In addition, law enforcement vehicles typically include other gear positioned proximate to a front seat of a driver and/or a passenger, for example, such as laptop computers, other electronic equipment, other weapons and corresponding holders, and other law enforcement devices for which quick and easy access within arm’s reach may typically be required. Such equipment may take up substantial room in the cabin of the law enforcement vehicle that otherwise would be available to permit free movement for occupants in a conventional vehicle. Such body-worn equipment and cabin-mounted equipment can undesirably constrain the movements of law enforcement personnel seated at the front seat of such a law enforcement vehicle.”
Why Would The Rivian R1T and R1S Make Good Police Vehicles?
Some police departments prefer larger vehicles and SUVs and pickup trucks make a strong case for themselves. In fact, some time back, we discussed why the Tesla Cybertruck would make a good police vehicle.
-* Tank Turn feature
-* The new seat design
-* 12.3-inch instrument cluster that can be customized to display as per the PD’s requirements
-* A 15.6-inch touchscreen system on the dash with Amazon Alexa integration for varied uses
-* Level 3 autonomy (which could become Level 5 depending on how Rivian
proceeds with its new project)
And here are the drivetrain and mechanical specs:
-* The R1T churns out 788 ponies that make it sprint to the 60 mph mark in three seconds flat
-* Four electric motors - one connected to each wheel - make 197 horsepower each
-* It will be offered with three battery pack options: 105 kWh, 135 kWh, and 180 kWh
-* The R1T will offer up to 400 miles of range
-* 0-60 mph achieved in 4.9 seconds with the smallest battery pack and in 3.2 seconds with the largest battery pack
-* Adjustable air suspension that can raise the R1T from 7.9 inches to 14.2 inches by the press of a button
Final Thoughts
How many of you take off your phone and wallet when you step into the car? Compared to cops carrying guns, that is nothing. But, most of us still take them off. However, cops don’t have the same luxury. So, even though it doesn’t seem like a ground-breaking idea, it is a rather significant one that can make the drive more comfortable one for the cops.
Adding to the comfort is the fluidity with which they can react and pull out the equipment without struggling to do so. Definitely not a bad design to start with, but will it make into production should Rivian receive an order to produce either the R1T or R1S for police use? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.