When the Rivian R1T and R1S launched in 2021 and 2022, they broke new floor in their very own methods. The R1T was North America’s first fashionable electrical truck, whereas the R1S supplied a real three-row electrical SUV expertise, not like the compromised three-rows of the Tesla Mannequin Y and Mannequin X.
Each Rivians acquired rave evaluations, from InsideEVs included. Nonetheless, clients confronted teething points associated to software program and upkeep. Now the EVs are of their second era, and Rivian goals to consign these points to the historical past books with improved electrical and wiring methods. These adjustments ought to carry down Rivian’s manufacturing prices as properly.
Servicing Rivian EVs is not simple.
California EV start-up Rivian does not have the a long time of expertise that legacy carmakers have in the case of after-sales service. R1S and R1T clients have had a number of serviceability points, however Rivian has now taken a number of steps to deal with that, together with incorporating superior zonal electrical methods.
The brand new fashions boast a completely new electrical structure and computing platform that apparently make the “automobiles extra sturdy, less expensive to supply and simpler to service—all whereas enhancing the expertise for patrons,” in accordance with Rivian.
On the core of the system is a brand new zonal electrical structure. It now makes use of simply seven ECUs in comparison with 17 earlier than. Every of the seven ECUs is now extra highly effective and has extra computational capabilities. Rivian says this has helped it take away some 1.6 miles of wiring from every car and scale back 44 kilos of weight.
When you’re new to how this stuff work, wiring harnesses are the automotive’s nervous system. They ship energy and indicators to completely different parts and methods: lights, switches, audio system, cameras, you identify it.
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Zonal structure refers to EVs having completely different zones for wiring harnesses and modules. As an alternative of getting a centralized wiring system with lengthy cables connecting all parts, zonal structure organizes the wiring into smaller, extra manageable sections.
Historically, automobiles have had miles of wiring harnesses that add weight and complexity. Tesla was the early mover when it got here to simplifying these. The early Mannequin S was mentioned to have 2 miles of wiring harnesses. That was lower to 1 mile on Mannequin 3 and simply 100 meters on the Mannequin Y.
Even Ford CEO Jim Farley has complained about this problem along with his firm’s EVs; he has beforehand railed on the heavy, expensive and pointless quantity of wiring on the Mustang Mach-E, one thing engineers are in search of to cut back on future Ford platforms.
First era Rivian R1T wiring harness (Through Munro Stay).
Beforehand, some homeowners have complained about glitches on the infotainment display screen and malfunctioning driver help options. Others mentioned the R1S shifted drive by itself after coming to a halt at cease indicators.
One R1T proprietor even informed InsideEVs that his truck was out for repairs for eight months to change a single side-view digicam. To swap that out, the physique store needed to take the inside aside, yank out the seats, and dismantle the dashboard. After which change the whole wiring harness.
The proprietor’s R1S was the “guinea pig” in the entire service course of, he informed me early this yr. Now Rivian appears to have taken severe steps to unravel these points within the second era fashions.
