Home

Rivian

R1S

News

Rivian Just Dramatically Cut Charging Time With A Software Update

There's a new fastest-charging Rivian and it's not the one you'd expect.

Rivian R1S

Suvrat Kothari Suvrat Kothari

By: Suvrat Kothari

Jul 23, 2024 at 5:26pm ET

Add InsideEVs as a preferred source in Google

Share

Comment

Tesla may be the software king, but Rivian is emerging as the new underdog the industry is increasingly paying attention to.

A few weeks ago, Rivian inked a deal with the Volkswagen Group to license its software and electrical architecture. Recently, the startup also introduced huge upgrades to the second generation R1S and R1T. One of those upgrades included adding a lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack for the base version, dramatically improving its charging times.

Get Fully Charged

Why charging speeds matter

Charging an EV takes more time than refueling a gas car. It's because discharging electrons from a charging station at a high voltage, consistently and safely, is no easy task. However, charging companies, battery makers and automakers are finding ways to speed up the process.

InsideEVs’ pal and EV expert Kyle Conner, the host of the YouTube channel Out of Spec Reviews, had the opportunity to investigate the charging curve of the 2025 Rivian R1S twice this month. He did that before and after the new R1S received a software update. What he found was charging times significantly improved after the software update and concluded that the standard battery would be the “sweet spot” for most buyers.

Battery health and data start-up Recurrent says that LFP chemistry offers major advantages over traditional nickel-manganese-cobalt packs. That includes more durability and a higher operating voltage, cost advantages in raw material sourcing and manufacturing, omission of conflicted materials like cobalt and slower degradation. There are some downsides, though. They include lower energy density, lower range and slower charging in winter. But several EVs, including the rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3, use LFP packs as the advantages can largely outweigh the drawbacks in certain use cases.

Gallery: Rivian R1S

Rivian R1S

20

Rivian R1S Rivian R1S Rivian R1S Rivian R1S interior Rivian R1S Rivian R1S

When Conner first plugged the new R1S into the Alpitronic Hypercharger 400, it took about 1 hour and 15 minutes to go from 0-100%. Rivian recently pushed a software update and that has reduced that charging time by about 15 minutes, Conner said. Going from flat to 100% in slightly under an hour means the base R1S is now the fastest charging trim.

What do you think?

View

Comments

During the charging test, the R1S reached a peak charging rate of 218 kilowatts, holding over 200 kW between 5-25%. Then it began tapering at around 40%. What’s impressive is that it can add roughly 90 miles of range in 15 minutes. At least theoretically, that should make it a pretty good road-tripping companion. In the range test, it delivered about 240 miles on the highway, about 30 miles less than Rivian’s claimed range of 270 miles in mixed city and highway driving. It has a usable battery capacity of 92.5 kilowatt hours.

By comparison, the first generation Rivian R1T and R1S charged from 10-80% in about 40-45 minutes in InsideEVs testing. Charging speeds slowed significantly after the 80% mark. Early launch edition models with the large 128.1 kWh pack charged from 10-90% in 72 minutes in Car and Driver testing.

More EV News

How Electric Vehicles Powered Houston Homes During Hurricane Beryl

Rivian's CEO Is Right. Apple CarPlay Is Overrated

GM 'Repeatedly Fumbles The Ball' On New Technology, Ex-Cruise CEO Says

How To Power Your House With An Electric Car

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Insideevs.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The InsideEVs team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@insideevs.com

View all comments ( )

Trending

Tesla Opens Self-Driving Cybercab Orders To 'Select Customers' At $29,990

Tesla Opens Self-Driving Cybercab Orders To 'Select Customers' At $29,990

Solid-State Cells Can Make The U.S. Competitive In Batteries Again: CEO

Solid-State Cells Can Make The U.S. Competitive In Batteries Again: CEO

I Took A Rivian R2 On A Camping Trip To The Middle Of The Desert

I Took A Rivian R2 On A Camping Trip To The Middle Of The Desert

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Now Works On Apple CarPlay

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Now Works On Apple CarPlay

Latest Stories

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU



I Took A Rivian R2 On A Camping Trip To The Middle Of The Desert



Tesla Opens Self-Driving Cybercab Orders To 'Select Customers' At $29,990



The AI Boom Is Making Ordinary Car Parts Harder To Get, Rivian Says



Do EVs Wear Tires Faster? Here's What The Studies Show



Rivian's New Robots Will Initially Handle 20% Of Factory Tasks. The Goal Is 80%, CEO Says



The VW ID. Buzz Is Getting A New Job As A Robotaxi



The Rivian R1T Is An Awkward Fit For Britain. This Reviewer Loved It Anyway