What’s the Rivian R1T’s Towing Capacity?

The Rivian R1T is the first electric-powered truck to be released on the consumer market. As most automotive brands are transitioning into manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) in the future, you might be wondering whether EVs can have the same performance as their fuel-powered counterparts. This article will tackle the Rivian R1T’s capabilities and its difference from conventional fuel-powered trucks.

How Much Can the Rivian R1T Tow?

The Rivian R1T is capable of towing 11,000 pounds, which is similar to the towing capacity of trucks with large V8 engines. To put that into perspective, a Toyota Corolla weighs around 3,000 pounds. In theory, the Rivian R1T can tow over three Toyota Corollas.

The Rivian has four electric motors connected to each wheel that give it a total of 825 horsepower. Each motor is capable of producing a little bit more than 200 horsepower. The Rivian R1T can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, which makes it the fastest pickup truck ever.

Can the Rivian R1T Tow for Long Distances?

The R1T has a range of 285 miles without cargo. This is respectable and on par with electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3, which has a range of 272 miles. However, since its release, many vehicle critics and online content creators have tested the R1T’s battery life while towing heavy loads.

Car and Driver tested the R1T and found out that once the truck’s tow mode was enabled, its predicted range of 270 miles plummeted all the way down to 103 miles. That said, its actual range will still likely vary depending on the extra weight and road conditions. Temperature, gradients, and speed can also greatly affect the effective range of any EV.

TFL Truck also drove the R1T with an 8,100-pound trailer up Ike’s Gauntlet in Boulder, Colorado, which has a 7% elevation that goes on for eight miles. A fuel-powered truck with a turbocharged V6 engine needs around 67 kWh worth of gasoline to climb it. However, the R1T only needed 21.4 kWh worth of energy, which is 16% of its overall battery.

You’ll need to plan carefully to deal with the R1T’s limited range, especially if you plan on bringing a trailer to remote areas without any charging stations. This problem is complicated by the fact that the R1T’s large batteries take longer to charge compared to a conventional EV.

What Other Features Does the Rivian R1T Have?

The R1T is also fitted with torque vectoring, a technology that’s typically found in sports sedans. This technology measures the amount of torque sent to each wheel. As a result, the system can detect when the wheels are starting to lose grip. It can then direct the torque towards the wheels that have traction. This allows the R1T to have more traction while accelerating around a corner.

The Rivian R1T also has an air suspension with hydraulic dampers. This gives the truck 6.5 inches of height adjustment, which can be helpful if you want to be more aerodynamic and energy-efficient on the highway or if you want to have extra ride clearance. The R1T’s suspension system also allows it to level itself when one side is carrying the load. Overall, this suspension system coupled with a hefty weight of 7,100 pounds makes the R1T a stable tow platform.

The Rivian R1T also has a good regenerative braking system. This system uses the vehicle’s excess momentum to recharge its batteries. However, when this is activated it will slow the vehicle down. This is why this system is great when it comes to going down hills since there’s a lot of excess momentum that can be utilized. During testing, TFL Truck also found that the R1T was able to get back 2% of its charge from regenerative braking while going down Ike’s Gauntlet.

Overall, the Rivian R1T is incredible to drive. It has a lot of power and can easily haul a trailer over long inclined roads. However, the R1T has the disadvantage of having limited range. That said, the R1T can still be the perfect truck to bring your trailers up mountains, but only if you live near them.