Rivian’s new Amazon Prime electric delivery van, spotted and shared by Jeffrey Chen on Facebook.
Rivian’s first electric vans being tested by Amazon may have less range than expected, depending on the HVAC system’s heating and cooling operations.
Details were reported from a driver to The Information, citing how the Rivian van’s battery drained 40% faster than normal, when heating or cooling was turned on.
Rivan disclosed in recent filings the electric van would have 120 to 150 miles, depending on vehicle size.
Amazon’s director of global fleets and products, Ross Rachey, told The Information that air conditioning and heating could impact the battery in the vehicles being tested, as these electric vans have yet to have insulation installed as final production vehicles will include.
Current Rivian prototype vans have had up to a dozen cameras on both the interior and exterior, with Amazon set to add four extra cameras when the vans are deployed, said Rachey.
Ahead of Rivian’s IPO debut, Amazon disclosed it owned a 20% stake in the electric automaker, which also is backed by the likes of Ford. Shares of RIVN closed at $128.60 on Friday, after hitting highs of $179 this week. The company’s market cap currently sits at $113 billion, for a company that has $0 in revenue so far.
