- Rivian’s electric van will get two big updates.
- The California startup said it’s working on a bigger battery pack and an all-wheel drive powertrain.
- The bigger battery will significantly improve the van’s driving range.
Rivian’s battery-powered delivery van has been on sale practically unchanged since its introduction in late 2021. Except for the battery chemistry switch and electric motor upgrade in 2023, when Rivian transitioned to a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack and an in-house drive unit, the lovable electric van has been rolling off the assembly line in the same form for a little over four years.
That’s about to change soon, though, as the California EV startup is planning a significant upgrade for the van that has dominated the segment sales charts in the United States, thanks in no small part to the company’s deal with Amazon for 100,000 units.
Rivian’s Electric Delivery Van (EDV) or Commercial Van (RCV) has been available so far with a single battery option and only front-wheel drive. That’s fine for the vehicle’s intended purpose, which is to make a lot of short, low-speed, local trips to deliver parcels from a distribution center to customers’ addresses.
In the future, though, the electric van will have the option for a larger battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel drive, according to Rivian’s fourth-quarter shareholder letter. The RCV 500 and RCV are currently offered with a 100-kilowatt-hour LFP battery pack that enables a 161- and 160-mile estimated range, while the front-mounted Enduro motor puts down 320 horsepower.
That’s fine for most days, but as Amazon and other delivery companies expand their electric vehicle fleets to reach more remote areas, the addition of all-wheel drive and a bigger battery should make life easier for drivers when the going gets tough. According to Rivian, the larger battery brings a 30% increase in range, which should result in a real-world driving distance of over 200 miles. Meanwhile, AWD offers more power and improves traction in mud and snow.
Rivian didn’t say when the new battery and drivetrain versions would debut, or how much they would cost. Currently, the base-spec Rivian Commercial Van 500 starts from $79,000, so logic dictates that a longer-range and more powerful version would have a higher price tag. That said, now that Chevrolet’s BrightDrop van has been discontinued, there is no other all-wheel drive electric commercial van on sale in the United States, leaving the path clear for Rivian to take over.
Last year, the startup’s electric commercial van topped the sales charts, with 13,423 units finding new owners, according to Kelley Blue Book. By contrast, the Ford E-Transit sold 5,186 units, the Chevy BrightDrop had 4,971 sales, and the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter sold 738 units. With GM’s BrightDrop out of the picture and Ford’s E-Transit on its last legs, Rivian has a clear shot at becoming the dominant player.
