Summary
- The Rivian R1S electric SUV successfully completed the challenging Rubicon Trail in stock form, showcasing the effectiveness of EVs in off-road conditions.
- The R1S is the first stock EV to complete the Rubicon Trail, without any modifications or upgrades.
- The R1S demonstrated its range competency by completing the trail with a starting charge of 80% and ending with just under 10% battery, showing that EVs can handle off-road trails without range anxiety.
In a significant move to prove its off-road chops, the Rivian R1S electric SUV has completed the infamous Rubicon Trail 4x4 course in its stock form.
Rivian announced that its fully electric SUV had conquered the Rubicon Trail with some battery charge left to spare - a major statement for the effectiveness of EVs in off-road conditions. More than that, the R1S is the first stock EV to complete the Rubicon Trail from end to end.
Rivian R1S Is The First Stock Electric Vehicle To Complete The Rubicon Trail
Thousands of stock gasoline and diesel-powered internal combustion 4x4s have completed the Rubicon Trail. But until recently, no stock electric vehicles had managed the feat. The Rivian R1S changed that by navigating the notoriously tricky off-road trail on August 9th, 2023.
Rivian didn't send out a modified R1S with bigger tires or a suspension lift for the event. Instead, the company opted for a bone-stock R1S with the same features any customer can get from the factory. The only added features were steel rock sliders for underbody protection, a pair of front tow hitch receivers for recovery purposes, and a roof rack for stowing supplies.
The stock R1S wasn't alone, though. Rivian sent a pair of pre-production R1Ts with it as support vehicles for the first section. After a while, a Jeep Wrangler support vehicle took over.
According to Rivian, the stock R1S and its crew completed the Rubicon trail around 3:30 pm after beginning at 7:45 am on August 9th.
Putting The Off-Road EV To The Test
It's no surprise that the Rivian R1S had the off-road capability to navigate the Rubicon Trail's tough obstacles. The R1S has outstanding ground clearance, heaps of low-end torque, and full-time all-wheel drive. The bigger achievement is the R1S's demonstration of range competency in an off-road setting.
Range anxiety has been a common knock against EVs for years — and 4x4 models haven't been immune. Prospective buyers have been wringing their hands over whether an EV truck would have dependable range way out in the sticks on an off-road trail. The Rivian R1S's success on the Rubicon trail may put some of those worries to rest.
Rivian claims the R1S started its run on the trail at an 80 percent charge — a realistic starting point. By the end, the SUV's battery pack was just under 10 percent. It was enough juice for the R1S to make it to the nearest charging station without a struggle. Rivian also claims that the R1S used the energy equivalent of three gallons of gas to complete the Rubicon trail. It's an impressive level of efficiency for a large off-road SUV.
If you'd like to get a new R1S for your own off-road adventures, you're out of luck for this year. Order banks for the 2023 R1S are closed, with deliveries for the 2024 model expected to begin early next year.