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Detroit – In a refurbished old cash register factory in the suburbs of Detroit, 300 engineers are working with a 100% electric van and an SUV, which they hope will invade the EV market and defeat Tesla in its game.
All work for Rivian, who has just unveiled his new innovative and fascinating electric bakkie in anticipation of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The SUV should be presented shortly.
The R1T pickup, which is expected to go on sale in the US by the end of 2020, has an electric motor on each wheel, which should prove particularly handy for all-terrain tracks. ground. He would be able to go from 96 km / h (0 to 60 mph). ) in just three seconds, placing it squarely in supercar territory.
With easier throttle loads, the battery-powered pickup has a declared range of over 644 km with a single charge.
The double cabin accommodates five occupants and also features an innovative retractable bedspread, as well as a front trunk (or "trunk") at the normal engine location.
Other new features include a fully digital dashboard, a "gear tunnel" for storage between the rear seats and the rear wheels, a flexible crossbar system for attaching objects over the shelf charging and three 110V power outlets for your tools.
The vehicle also has a payload of 800 kg and a towing capacity of 5,000 kg, according to Rivian.
In addition, it will provide level 3 autonomous driving capability (eyes and handsfree) on major roads.
This will not come cheap though.
RJ Scaringe, the company's 35-year-old CEO, estimates that the base version with a range of 370 km should start at less than $ 70,000 (R970,000), while the flagship long-range product mentioned above is expected to sell at $ 90,000. (R1.25m).
Long road to achieve
The small start-up still has a long way to go before they can sell vehicles, even though it claims to have $ 500 million in funding. She needs to develop a sales and service network, advertise a battery cell provider and start producing vehicles in the former Mitsubishi factory that she owns in Normal, Illinois.
Rivian is part of a growing number of startups and well-established auto companies looking to enter the fully electric vehicle market.
The influx of battery-only vehicles will almost certainly attract buyers from the current leader, Tesla, who will probably deliver more than 300,000 vehicles worldwide this year.
Michael Ramsey, senior badyst at Gartner, said Tesla "will undoubtedly lose market share as new competitors arrive."
However, it is unclear whether the demand for electric vehicles will increase enough so that there is room for everyone.
Currently, the market is tiny. In the United States, electric vehicles accounted for only 0.8% of new vehicle registrations until August of this year, according to IHS Markit data. But that's significantly more than the 0.5% at the same time in 2017.
Globally, Navigant Research predicts tremendous growth over the next seven years, rising from just over one million sales this year to 6.5 million by 2025.
As competition intensifies, prices are gradually falling and getting closer to internal combustion engine cars. At the same time, the electrical reach is on the rise.
IOL & AP
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