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Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

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Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#341
post #329
post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Weight has nearly no effect on range of an EV. The YouTube channel Aging Wheels has two good videos on this. Here he talks about towing, and he demonstrates loading the truck to max capacity makes nearly no difference: https://youtu.be/UmKf8smvGsA He also covered an attempted Cannonball run where they stuffed two extra battery packs into a Rivian R1T: https://youtu.be/yfgkh4Fgw98 Real differences makers are smaller w…

> are smaller wheels Looks like rolling resistance decreases with diameter [1]. So, is it from the increased drag from higher stance? Would lowering the car the same work better? [1] https://www.tirereview.com/science-behind-rolling-resistance...

I think it's mostly from aerodynamics. Lowering the car could help but even just smaller rims, with the same overall diameter (rim + tire), can have a 15% impact on range. This Engineering Explained[1] video does an okay job with some of the math but he clarifies it well with a comment:

> CLARIFICATION! Why do bigger wheels mean worse efficiency, when the overall tire diameter remains the same? This comes down to aerodynamics. A 20" wheel will cause more of a disruption in airflow than an 18" wheel. That's why Tesla (and others) uses aero covers on their wheels (Car & Driver testing showed it gives about a 3% efficiency bonus at speed). The smaller the wheel, the more of the side profile of the wheel & tire is perfectly flat (the tire is flat, the wheel open: more tire = more flat area, less open area). Ideally, you'd have just a plain, solid sheet for the wheel, but obviously that's not idea for brake cooling. Wheel covers are today's common compromise as they have some airflow, but minimal.

[1] https://youtu.be/NYvKxsYFqO8

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#342
post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of it. It the motor is smaller, it pulls less current. If it pull less current, you can use batteries which aren't specced for high amps. If use use less amps, you can use thinner cabling and split the batteries up i various compartments. That means heat is more distributed. Less active cooling, if any, is needed, of both batteries and motors. All of the above can translate to less weight, which mean better rang…

Weight has nearly no effect on range of an EV. The YouTube channel Aging Wheels has two good videos on this. Here he talks about towing, and he demonstrates loading the truck to max capacity makes nearly no difference: https://youtu.be/UmKf8smvGsA He also covered an attempted Cannonball run where they stuffed two extra battery packs into a Rivian R1T: https://youtu.be/yfgkh4Fgw98 Real differences makers are smaller w…

It has an effect on the range of the tires.

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#343
post #341
post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> are smaller wheels Looks like rolling resistance decreases with diameter [1]. So, is it from the increased drag from higher stance? Would lowering the car the same work better? [1] https://www.tirereview.com/science-behind-rolling-resistance...

I think it's mostly from aerodynamics. Lowering the car could help but even just smaller rims, with the same overall diameter (rim + tire), can have a 15% impact on range. This Engineering Explained[1] video does an okay job with some of the math but he clarifies it well with a comment: > CLARIFICATION! Why do bigger wheels mean worse efficiency, when the overall tire diameter remains the same? This comes down to aer…

> solid sheet for the wheel, but obviously that's not idea for brake cooling

So, temperature driven radial louvers!? :D

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#344

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have 2014 Tesla S which which I recently had drive unit and battery replaced ($20k total). my friends all think I am nuts, but they all have $1k+ payments (some for 72m) while I haven’t had a car payment since 2017 and won’t have another one till 2036 :)

What are you thinking about getting next?

nothing till 2035 and even then I might just replace the battery again. people look at EVs as like some disposable thing, when battery deteriorates you chuck it (shows in the pricing of 'used' EVs, my friend bought a 3-year old eTron that was originally purchased for $93k for $35k - 19k miles on it). my tesla is rock n roll now and will be good for the next decade

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In California with PG&E which most people have, no you don't save much. It's different if you can charge for free at work. And yes EVs depreciated worse than any other vehicle.

> In California with PG&E which most people have, Most people in California don’t have PG&E. Most of the land area in the northern 2/3 of the State or so is covered by PG&E, but people and land area aren't the same thing. Southern California Edison alone serves almost as many people as PG&E, and other smaller utilities, including public utilities like LADWP, SMUD, Silicon Valley Power, etc., serve another big chunk o…

My mistake, thanks.

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

here another review from my favorite car reviewer Mat Watson (carwow), from what I remember he complains about cleaning rear window wiper, but it feels all in all like paid ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eepauvC5LU

The fact that Rivan gave preview access to a UK car reviewer while ignoring Out Of Spec who literally have 3 Rivians in their 'fleet' shows that Rivian is not yet serious about building a quality, customer-centric EV even though I truly want them to be successful.

I have no idea who that is.

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#347
post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every car manufacturer has a catalog of spare parts you can order. I really don't understand what you're on about with your post.

That it should be possible for somebody with a reasonable understanding of car maintenance to actually fix or maintain their car instead of having a blob of proprietary nonsense only meant to lock you in and milk your wallet with mandatory dealer repairs and subscriptions.

Complexity is the reason your car doesn't drink fuel like people drink water and also the reason there's vastly less severe accidents than 60 years ago.

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#348
post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I watched MKBHD’s review versus Doug DeMuro’s and only one of them took the time to point out the tailgate window and wipers. One reviews cars the other reviews gadgets.

I watched both Marques' review and Doug's, and yeah Doug's was better. I linked the MKBHD review because mainly I wanted to make the Model Y comparison, and Marques called it a "Model Y fighter" in the video title. And also, Doug feels a little out of touch to me these days. Less about "quirks and features" that appeal to me (although he still covers that), and more about "enthusiast cars" (like his million dollar Po…

I remember when Marques coined the word “squiricle” which is a portmanteau of square and circle, to describe the shape of the steering wheel of a Tesla. From then on every “car reviewer” YouTuber started describing any steering wheel with this shape using the stupid portmanteau. It’s infuriating to car enthusiasts who knew that this kind of steering wheel is called a quartic steering wheel, with history behind the design.

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#349

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The car version of this stopped being produced 15 years ago. Old petrol Toyotas and Hondas met your criteria. And the back catalogue of parts is huge and supported for a long time. Modern cars aren't built as well. Maybe the modern non-turbo petrol Mazdas are the best fallback.

Modern cars aren't built as well. Can you cite a source for this? There's no question that they're vastly more complex, but I would think that modern car manufacturing is far more exacting (and efficient) than in the past. If you're saying that older cars are more repairable, I'm happy to agree with you, even without a source to back up that claim.

10 year old article about Toyota realizing it was over engineering parts and making the cars too expensive and parts didn’t need to last as long.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150122235642/http://www.busine...

Re: Rivian R2: Electric Mid-Size SUV

#350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Model 3 TCO is very competitive for all sedans. But yes, there are a lot of luxury EVs and EVs with questionable reliability. https://www.self.inc/info/expensive-cars-to-run/ https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-maintenance/the-cos...

Insurance is a bear for Teslas. They cost a lot to repair. The Model 3 Highland is super fun to drive. Maybe other EVs have this too. It's a very different experience to a similarly priced ICE car, and worth factoring in to the value proposition. I specify Highland because the previous version was rattly and noisy enough to seriously detract from the zippy driving experience. Highland is nice.

These TCO reports include maintenance. The first one includes insurance. Insurance can be cheap. It varies wildly.
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