Rivian gave its R1S and R1T flagships a substantial update for the 2025 model year. The company dramatically reduced the amount of wiring and electronic complexity in the trucks, redid the motors and launched a new, more affordable lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack for the base models. Now, thanks to our friends Out Of Spec Reviews on Youtube, we finally have a range test of the new LFP truck.
For those unfamiliar with battery chemistry, LFP batteries are an alternative to traditional lithium-cobalt-manganese (LCM) batteries used in most EVs. Both are lithium-ion batteries, but use cathodes made up of different materials. LFP batteries require fewer rare earth minerals, making them cheaper and easier to produce. They also don't mind being charged to 100%—something that causes degradation in LCM packs—and are more stable than LCM packs, making them less likely to experience thermal runaway events that lead to fires. They're hugely popular in China for these reasons. And above all, they keep EV costs down.
