Rivian has improved R1 range through software before, and that track record is the best reason I have to think the R2’s highway efficiency can get better with an over-the-air update.
On the drive home to Florida after testing with Kyle Conner at Out of Spec, my R2 Performance managed 171 miles going from 85% to 2% at mostly 70 to 75 mph. Kyle’s numbers showed the R2 using 18.4% more energy than a Model Y Performance at 50 mph and 26.5% more at 80 mph, even though the EPA rates them almost the same.
Out of Spec’s newest video, posted yesterday, shows another R2 on all-terrain tires getting 213 miles from 100% to 0% in cooler North Carolina weather. That lines up with my drive, since 171 miles over 83% of the pack works out to roughly 206 miles on a full charge.
Back in late 2022, Rivian confirmed to Electrek that updates since the start of production had improved R1 efficiency, which moved the quad-motor Large pack R1T from 314 to 328 miles and the R1S from 316 to 321. Rivian credited battery management, regen and ride height adjustments for the gains.
A few months later, 2023.02.03 added an updated EPA estimate and a larger depth of discharge, giving owners more usable energy and around 16 extra miles at the top of a charge. That one came from opening up more of the pack, which still counts as range for owners even if energy per mile stayed the same.
The R2’s gap to the Model Y looks mostly like aero to me, and no update reshapes the body.
I fully expect Rivian to find a few percent through things like how the R2 splits torque between its two motors at cruise and how the inverter is tuned for highway speeds, like it did with regen on R1, but I wouldn’t count on software closing a 26% gap.
