Is Rivian R1T Electric Truck A Perfect Rival To Ford F-150 Lightning?

The U.S. is visibly winning the electric truck race with the market booming with products like Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and upcoming Chevy Silverado EV and Tesla Cybertruck.

The Rivian R1T electric truck has emerged as a worthy rival to the iconic Ford F-150 Lightning. F-150 (ICE version) needs no introduction being the highest-selling truck for over 4 decades in the USA. But Rivian has taken up the challenge to compete against it and its specs and unique features suggest why the carmaker has so much trust in itself. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Rivian has a 2.6-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois and is in the process of establishing its own charging infrastructure across the U.S. and Canada by 2023.

You might also like: Nio ET7 is the Premium Sedan of the Luxury Electric Car Segment 

Rivian R1T Electric Truck Specs

Since the Rivian R1T is going up against the giants of the industry, it is bound to have impressive specifications. For the 2022 model, there is the option of a single battery pack. Smaller and larger battery packs will be available at a later stage.

Rivian R1T	Specs
Drivetrain	4 Electric Motors (1 for each wheel)
Battery	129 kWh
Power	835 hp
Torque	908 lb-ft (1,231 Nm)
Acceleration (0-60 mph / 0-96 km/h)	3 secs
Range	314 miles (505 km)
Towing Capacity	11,000 lbs (4,990 kg)

You might also like: Sono Sion – Production-Ready Solar Powered Electric Car – Specs & More

Off-Roading Capabilities

Since Rivian aims to capture the market share away from the likes of the F-150 Lightning electric truck, the R1T is bound to come equipped with off-road, as well as towing capabilities in addition to unique practical features to enhance accessibility and utility. That is where features like an air compressor in the cargo bed, a cargo tunnel between the rear seat compartment and cargo bed area, unique hooks at various places in the cargo bed, etc come into the picture.

Rivian R1T	Off-Road Specs
Approach Angle	35.5º
Departure Angle	30º
Breakover Angle	26.4º
Ground Clearance	14.9 in (378 mm)
Water Wading	more than 3 ft

Dimensions & Storage

Being a large pickup truck also comes with imposing dimensions and the Rivian R1T is no different.

Rivian R1T	Dimensions & Storage
Length	217.1 in (5,514 mm)
Width (with side mirrors folded)	81.8 in (2,060 mm)
Height (with antenna)	78.2 in (1,986 mm)
Wheelbase	135.8 in (3,449 mm)
Frunk Storage	11.1 cu ft (314 litres)
Bed Length with Tailgate Up	54.1 in (1,374 mm)

You might also like: 2022 Polestar 2 Electric Car – Range, Interior & Specs

Interior and Features

Keeping sustainability in mind, the electric truck uses vegan leather inside the cabin. It comes with all the latest connectivity and technological amenities. This includes driving assistance features under Rivian’s Driver+ package guided by 11 cameras, 5 radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a 360º field of vision. Some of these ADAS functions include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Lane Assist Function, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Steering, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert and many more.

In terms of creature comforts, the colossal 16-inch Infotainment Screen takes the centre stage as one enters the cabin. It comes with Connected Car Features using LTE or WiFi, Wireless Charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Digital Driver’s Instrument Cluster, Over-The-Air Updates, Alexa Voice Commands, Premium Meridian Speakers, Panoramic Sunroof and much more.

Price

In the U.S. market, the Rivian R1T costs $67,500 for the Explore variant and $73,000 for the Adventure variant. The starting price of the R1T is significantly more expensive compared to the Ford F-150 Lightning which starts at a more modest $39,947 albeit with lower specs.