The Rivian R1T is an impressive electric pickup truck. It can accelerate faster than many sports cars, it is silent, comfortable, unique, and capable off-road. However, there is a problem. Many videos online test the off-road abilities of the Rivian without diving deep into the mechanics and design of the vehicle. They simply conclude that it is a capable off-roader based on it being able to tackle a series of challenges. While there is no denying that the R1T is capable, there are some issues that are overlooked by many, and here are some of them.
What Makes The R1T Work Off-Road?
The Rivian R1T is capable off-road for a variety of reasons. First, it has an air suspension that can alter the ride height from 7.9 inches to 14.4. For a road-going truck, 14.4 inches is an amazing number and that is partly because there are no low-hanging diffs in the middle. Since the Rivian doesn’t have diffs, it has electric motors – one on each wheel to be precise. Now, these electric motors can be controlled via software easily. This means that as soon as they sense wheel spin, they can cut or provide power to the necessary wheel. Granted, a normal traction control system does the same, but in the case of electric vehicles, it is usually more effective due to the greater control over the power inputs. The body of the Rivian is also shaped with off-roading in mind as it has good approach and departure angles. The above attributes mean that this is a car that can find grip due to the traction systems while also having the clearance to drive over obstacles. However, we are missing some key elements here.
The Limitations of the Rivian R1T’s Off-Road Abilities
Most tests just focus on the above abilities and fail to pinpoint the limitations. First and foremost, air suspension is great for increasing ride height; however, once fully jacked up it becomes way too stiff. This gives a bad ride while also eliminating wheel travel which leads to wheel lifts and hops during wheel spin. The fact that this system is also paired with four-corner independent suspension further exaggerates the issue. Then there is the problem of durability and serviceability. How many hits can the undercarriage of this electric pickup truck take before issues arise when rock crawling scraping the underside is the norm and is an expected occurrence? Can batteries take such hits? And, what happens in case they fail? The last thing you want is an EV fire in the middle of the forest. It weighs 7,148 pounds and that also doesn’t help as the hits will be harder, and it will get bogged easily. Furthermore, it will be more prone to tire sidewall damage and part failure. Not to mention how difficult it will be to recover.
Aside from the hits, what happens if the vehicle is flooded? This isn’t an uncommon off-road scenario. You line up to drive through a river and end up getting stuck. In a few minutes, the cabin is filled with water. We speculate that it may be able to take the water for a few minutes, but if it is submerged for long, then problems will arise. Perhaps the biggest issue here is that the whole vehicle depends on software with very few mechanical pieces. We all know that software can sometimes malfunction – just like your laptop or phone decides to freeze for no specific reason. What if such a problem arises with the whole vehicle while you are far away from help? The only way to diagnose and fix it is to plug it into a computer. Finally, there is the problem of how far you can drive off-road. We all know by now that when electric pickup trucks tow or go off-road their EV range drops significantly meaning that you won’t be able to drive far. Some may pinpoint the off-road trailers that Rivian has developed with Optima. These feature a second battery pack that can charge the Rivian off-grid (kind of like a phone power bank). However, we wouldn’t want to know how much this trailer weighs and how damaging to the environment the process of producing it is.
Final Thoughts
Don’t get us wrong, the Rivian R1T is an impressive machine. There isn’t another EV that can perform this well off- and on road. However, we need to address the underlying issues so we can set realistic expectations without providing an image that this is a replacement for the old-school 4x4s. Sure, old-school four-by-fours are no match on road; however, their versatility and durability mean that the Rivian is still miles behind for really tough trails and remote expeditions. The ultimate build would be the power and efficiency of the Rivian paired with the toughness and adaptability of solid axles and a body on frame. A man can dream.