Rivian locks in electric ute delivery dates

Electric ute startup Rivian will start delivering its R1T pickup in June 2021, followed by the R1S SUV in August.

The pure-electric off-roaders will go head-to-head with the Tesla Cybertruck, along with the upcoming GMC Hummer electric ute and mooted electric Ford F-150.

Rivian is one of the darlings of the electric startup world at the moment, having recently secured a huge second round of investment.

In its first investment round for 2020, the Michigan-based company has raked in US$2.5 billion (A$3.58 billion). That’s almost as much as the company raised in the entirety of 2019, when it secured US$2.85 billion ($4 billion).

Both the R1T ute and R1S SUV debuted at the 2018 Los Angeles motor show. The R1T measures 5475mm long and 2015mm wide, with a 3449mm wheelbase.

For comparison, a Ford Ranger double cab is 5446mm long, 1977mm wide, and has a 3220mm wheelbase.

The R1S is the same width as its ute sibling but is slightly shorter (5097mm) with a shorter wheelbase (3076mm).

A Tesla Model X, in contrast, is shorter (5036mm) with a shorter wheelbase (2965mm) but is wider (2072mm).

Both Rivian models will be available with a choice of three different battery packs, with capacities of 105kWh, 135kWh and 180kWh.

Rivians with the 105kWh battery are claimed to reach 60mph (96km/h) in 4.9 seconds, with a total electric range of over 370km. Total power and torque are 300kW and 560Nm, respectively.

The quickest Rivians will be the R1T and R1S equipped with the 135kWh battery. These will reach 60mph in 3 seconds and produce 562kW and 1120Nm. Total electric range is said to be over 500km.

The 180kWh battery-equipped models are said to have an electric range of over 659km, but produce slightly less power (522kW) albeit the same amount of torque.

Both models can ford water up to 1m deep, while the R1T has a payload of 800kg and the R1S has an 820kg payload.

The R1T is the towing champion with a claimed 5000kg trailer weight rating. The R1S can haul only 3500kg.