Rivian electric ute gets into gear with storage

The Rivian R1T electric ute has a range from 370km to 640km. Photos: Rivian

One of the most remarkable things about the Rivian electric ute that has amazed customers and reviewers alike is the amount of storage available.

Rivian Automotive is an American electric vehicle manufacturer and automotive technology company founded in 2009. It has created two electric vehicles; the R1T ute and R1S SUV. 

The Rivian R1T is offered with three battery sizes: 105 kWh, 135 kWh, or 180 kWh. The R1T has a projected range of 370km with the smallest battery, 505km with the medium battery and over 640km with the largest battery.

AutoMuse contacted Rivian to see if and when the electric ute will be available in New Zealand, especially after Tesla has stopped taking orders from Kiwis for the Cybertruck ute.

A Rivian spokesperson told us, “we don’t currently have any news to share with regards to New Zealand”. AutoMuse suggested that New Zealand would be a great market considering the clean car rebate. Stay tuned.

The Rivian R1T’s most talked about storage feature is the Gear Tunnel, behind the rear seats.

As for the Rivian R1T, it’s an ideal vehicle if you want to go off the grid with friends. Extra batteries can be mounted in the R1T's bed for improved range. Those backup/auxiliary batteries can be charged by another R1T if no charging infrastructure is available.

But what has been the focus of many reviews is the ingenious storage areas, such as the Gear Tunnel, and how to access them. To see them all, check out the video at the end of this story.

Since there’s no fuel tank, the sleeping bags, sleeping pads, fishing poles, and waders can go in the Gear Tunnel, behind the rear seats. Since it doesn’t have an engine, your food fits in the front trunk, on top of the Off-Road Recovery Kit. 

The Rivian ute also has plenty of storage in the front truck.

The motors, brakes, suspension, chassis, and battery systems—all the vital components that make an R1T go are contained within the electric vehicle platform. Fitting all that engineering into such a compact structure meant that Rivian could give the R1T capabilities you won’t find in most other pickups. 

“We didn’t have to have all the components of a traditional truck,” says Luke Mack, Senior Exterior Designer.

“We could take advantage of the packaging and design something that was totally different.”

From early on in its development, Rivian would often design the vehicle around storage. For the front trunk, the company set and held to a best-in-class volume, so it could be sure that customers had a comfortable place for groceries, with flexible space for travel and adventure gear.

The spare tyre is kept under the bed of the electric ute.

“In the Gear Tunnel,” says Jonathan Szczupak, Senior Manager of Exterior Design, “we designed every millimeter, maximizing its storage volume.” 

Even the doors that fold down to access the Gear Tunnel have usable space.

“At the time, we didn’t even know what we wanted to put in there,” he says. “But we knew that people would find ways to use it.” 

Today, one door holds the first aid kit, and the other holds hoses for the built-in air compressor.

The Rivian R1T also comes with a torch, just don’t lose it!

In the cabin, the Rivian platform eliminates the center hump for the transmission tunnel you see inside most trucks. Since the R1T’s floor is nearly flat, Senior Interior Designer Roman Mistiuk and his team could build a center console optimized for convenience and capacity.

It starts next to the driver’s feet, with a tray that’s ideal for bags or other items you want within reach but need to stay put. Above that, just below the armrests, there’s a non-slip shelf with wireless charging, a groove for small items and a button that opens two cup holders. At the top, the armrests swing up to reveal the deep, rubber- and fabric-lined main compartment. 

“You store things, you charge your phone,” Roman says. “It’s like your service station.”