A user has covered over 83,000 miles in their 2022 Rivian R1T within three years, traveling to nine different cities during a 4,900-mile journey, and the electric vehicle's battery capacity has dropped less than 1%.
Rivian R1T Owner Embarks on Cross-Country Adventure, Embraces Vehicle's Innovation and Imperfections
John Doe, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, has embarked on a remarkable journey with his Rivian R1T, a high-tech electric pickup truck that has captured the hearts of many.
In July 2022, Doe took delivery of his Rivian R1T, marking the beginning of an exciting adventure. The R1T, with its Rivian Blue and Forest Edge combo, was a sight to behold, and Doe couldn't wait to hit the road.
During his journey, Doe visited various locations, including the Georgia Traverse, Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, and Linville Gorge Wilderness area. He also explored the Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the second-largest canyon system in the country, and the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The R1T's battery, with a capacity of 318 miles in All Purpose mode, proved to be a reliable companion, despite a real-world range closer to 240 miles. Remarkably, Doe has had less than a one percent drop in usable battery and range on the R1T since taking delivery.
However, Doe's journey was not without its challenges. He encountered early production issues like dome light failures, unresponsive screens, axle problems, and leaking seals, which raised concerns about long-term reliability.
Despite these issues, Doe remained optimistic about Rivian's future. He was welcomed at Rivian facilities not as a customer but as a contributor, and he even had the opportunity to take a factory tour of the Rivian facility in Normal, Illinois.
Volkswagen has also shown its faith in Rivian, committing up to $5 billion to invest in the company. A joint venture was formed under "Rivian & Volkswagen Group Technologies" to co-develop modular software-defined vehicle platforms using Rivian's zonal architecture. VW will also license Rivian's in-house software and architecture, allowing future Volkswagen EVs to benefit directly from Rivian's tech stack.
Doe's faith in Rivian is so strong that he plans to buy the next model year, despite selling his current R1T. He describes the R1T as "Heaven and Earth" and has had a positive, life-changing experience with the vehicle.
Throughout his journey, Doe averaged about 30K miles a year on the Rivian R1T. He had good charging experiences in places like Amarillo, Texas, where he stopped at Pork N Things for a BBQ. He also had a great dinner in New Mexican cuisine in Albuquerque and a blast at a BBQ event in Lockhart, Texas, where he shared his experience of living with his Rivian R1T.
In New Orleans, Louisiana, Doe spent a day and a half biking around with a friend and his partner, had some good food, and enjoyed a great sunset on the lake. He departed New Orleans the next day and had a peaceful final drive from New Orleans back home to Atlanta.
Despite the challenges, Doe's deep appreciation for the Rivian R1T's strong performance, design, and features remains unwavering. His story is a testament to the excitement and potential of electric vehicles, as well as the challenges and opportunities that come with pioneering new technology.
[1] Source: Interview with John Doe, Rivian R1T owner.
- John Doe's cross-country journey with his Rivian R1T, an electric pickup truck, showcases how innovation and imperfections blur lines within the automotive industry, lifestyle, and technology sectors.
- The finance industry has taken notice of Rivian, with Volkswagen committing up to $5 billion to invest in the company, indicating a potential shift in the transportation and travel industries towards electric vehicles (EVs).
- John Doe's experience with the Rivian R1T showcases the real-world performance and reliability challenges of early electric vehicle adoption, shedding light on the future outlook and potential improvements for the EV market.
- Despite facing hiccups with dome light failures, unresponsive screens, and other early production issues, John Doe's unwavering optimism about Rivian's future speaks to the excitement and opportunities surrounding electric vehicles and the ongoing advancements within the industry and lifestyle sectors.
