- The Rivian R1T and R1S EVs will get a new charging feature that’s bound to lower owners’ energy bills.
- An upcoming software update will enable the two electric models to charge during off-peak hours automatically.
- The company says that over 80% of charging sessions are done at home, but that over 70% of those sessions don’t benefit from the lowest utility rates.
The Rivian R1S and R1T adventure EVs will get a smart charging feature that will enable owners to automatically take advantage of the lowest electricity rates.
The feature, called Smart Charging, will be bundled in an upcoming software update and will allow users to save at least 20% in home charging costs just by letting the Rivian smartphone app do the heavy lifting.
The American electric car startup said in the software update’s release notes that the new feature will allow its passenger EVs to “automatically charge at home during off-peak times when electricity is typically cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable, while ensuring your vehicle is ready when you need it.”
Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s software chief, said that the smartphone app will be used to implement off-peak charging, adding that over 80% of EV charging occurs at home, but that over 70% of those sessions don’t align with the lowest utility rates.
The Smart Charging feature will be available for both Gen1 and Gen2 R1S and R1T models when the next over-the-air software version, 2025.34, goes live for everyone. Currently, the version is still in beta testing, as noted by Rivian Tracker, and there’s no concrete release date.
The same OTA update includes other features, as well. For pre-facelift models, the accuracy of battery range on arrival estimates will be improved, thanks to the addition of location air density as a factor for locations at higher elevations. Several bugfixes have also been implemented.
For the newer Gen2 cars, the ones built from 2024 onward, there’s a longer list of improvements. Something called Co-Steer allows the driver to adjust the position of the car within a lane using gentle steering inputs while Highway Assist is active without the system disengaging.
Moreover, the availability of Enhanced Highway Assist has increased by up to 50%, according to Rivian, particularly on urban and suburban highways. Digital Key support is also coming to the 2025 R1S and R1T, allowing owners to share digital versions of the vehicles’ keys with family and friends who have an Apple iPhone, Apple Watch, Google Pixel or compatible Samsung device.
