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Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

technologyreview.com

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Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#21

Post by x3haloed »

gpm wrote: post #10
jcims wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I think the innovation here is in the business model, not the engineering. I really do like the four motor design on the Rivian platform though. It opens up a lot of possibilities for improved performance/handling/safety and off-road capability. The 'tank turn' demo is kind of a gimmick but also not - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzwM8KE2L3I Edit: Add mecanum wheels and you could strafe (at least until they f…

Would the "tank turn" work on asphalt? Or would that be too much friction for the tires?

It might work, but Rivian has said that it should not be used on asphalt due to tire damage and maybe damage to other vehicle components.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#22

Post by x3haloed »

jcims wrote: post #8
AtlasBarfed wrote: post #2

... Aren't all the Teslas skateboard design? Isn't the skateboard design the basic EV design since the EV prototypes from the 90s? This seems basically like a Rivian press release reprinted.

Yeah I think the innovation here is in the business model, not the engineering. I really do like the four motor design on the Rivian platform though. It opens up a lot of possibilities for improved performance/handling/safety and off-road capability. The 'tank turn' demo is kind of a gimmick but also not - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzwM8KE2L3I Edit: Add mecanum wheels and you could strafe (at least until they f…

Tank turn is not a gimmick. Super useful on offroad trails where space to turn around is quite limited, which is important when you get to a part of the trail that is impassible or dangerous.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#23

Post by unlinked_dll »

KaoruAoiShiho wrote: post #14
jakelazaroff wrote: post #9

> On Monday, Rivian announced it had raised $1.3 billion in its fourth funding round of the year, led by T. Rowe Price, bringing its total for 2019 to nearly $2.9 billion. > Rivian has been quietly developing vehicles for a decade, but it seized the industry’s attention in late 2018, when it unveiled a pair of eye-catching, high-end electric trucks. Rivian raised $2.9 billion over four funding rounds in the span of o…

What's strange about this? When it doesn't have anything to show investors shy away. Prove its chops with some impressive prototypes and investors rush in.

The strange thing is running a business for a decade without bringing a product to market.

Prototypes be damned, they aren’t revenue.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#24

Post by DaiPlusPlus »

nimish wrote: post #4
taneq wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember reading in popular Mechanics about a skateboard design from GM back when the EV1 was new.

Gm invented the skateboard design but never did anything with it. Tesla uses it but it's proprietary. Rivian's shtick is that they are willing to license it and build it for others. That's a big reason why Ford invested: they can immediately get access to a leading edge ev platform without spending any time on it.

Wasn't that part of Tesla's business-model between the Roadster and Model S? In 2010 they engineered the Toyota RAV4 EV ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_RAV4_EV ). I'm curious how many other companies approached Tesla to seek partnerships building other EVs...

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#25

Post by cowsandmilk »

loceng wrote: post #7
thdrdt wrote: post #6

The Rivian is a truck you need, the Tesla is a truck you want. And the Revian will be road legal in Europe.

Tesla could relatively rapidly release a comparable competitor if it becomes obvious they are losing a large market share for certain segment.

I don’t see evidence for that. Tesla has yet to ship a vehicle that didn’t run into production delays.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#26

Post by DaiPlusPlus »

x3haloed wrote: post #20
thdrdt wrote: post #6

The Rivian is a truck you need, the Tesla is a truck you want. And the Revian will be road legal in Europe.

I think it's actually quite the opposite. If you need a truck for its utility which one makes more sense? The Cybertruck is less expensive, has more range, bigger payload, higher towing capacity, access to the best charging network in the world. Why would you buy a Rivian instead? The only reason I can think of is that it looks more conventional. If you need a truck, you buy the Tesla. If you want a lifestyle truck t…

I'm not convinced that the Cybertruck prices Tesla advertised during the unveiling were anything beyond promotional.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#27

Post by unlinked_dll »

xenospn wrote: post #5

I think most hype over EVs is a direct result of the Tesla stock price and people upset they missed their chance to buy it when it was $20. Probably nothing to do with Rivian or their tech - they just want "the next Tesla".

There won’t be a next Tesla and (smart) investors aren’t looking for one. Like chip startups the exit strategy doesn’t depend on competing with the big guys, but being acquired by them.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#28

Post by api »

xenospn wrote: post #5

I think most hype over EVs is a direct result of the Tesla stock price and people upset they missed their chance to buy it when it was $20. Probably nothing to do with Rivian or their tech - they just want "the next Tesla".

Have you driven one? Energy is 1/4 the price or less and efficiency is better even if your electricity comes from fossil fuels because small heat engines suck. Torque curve is better. Little maintenance, no oil changes, quiet, better handling. EVs are objectively superior in every single way except recharge speed amd range, and the gap has closed for the latter and is closing for the former. ICE is dead except for long haul and heavy driving where you don't often park the vehicle.

I have an older Leaf and it was an incredible deal for a commuter car. I don't understand why anyone gets anything else. The fuel cost savings and lack of maintenance alone are worth it, but it also drives and accelerates better than a smaller gas commuter car.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#29

Post by qaq »

cowsandmilk wrote: post #25
loceng wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tesla could relatively rapidly release a comparable competitor if it becomes obvious they are losing a large market share for certain segment.

I don’t see evidence for that. Tesla has yet to ship a vehicle that didn’t run into production delays.

Rivian has yet to ship a vehicle period.

Re: Rivian's platform approach to electric vehicles helped it raise $3B this year

#30

Post by Animats »

taneq wrote: post #3
AtlasBarfed wrote: post #2

... Aren't all the Teslas skateboard design? Isn't the skateboard design the basic EV design since the EV prototypes from the 90s? This seems basically like a Rivian press release reprinted.

I remember reading in popular Mechanics about a skateboard design from GM back when the EV1 was new.

Oh, the GM "Autonomy" prototype, 2002.[1] They took that too far; you could swap bodies on the car in a few minutes.

Many cars are built on platforms shared between multiple body styles. GM was notorious for this. There were far fewer platforms than models.

[1] http://www.adrianchernoff.com/project/autonomy/

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