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e

Cars

Some Unusual Design Decisions Made for Rivian's Electric Pickup Truck

Why is it a pickup?

By Rain Noe - November 28, 2018

I can't tell if this vehicle has an identity crisis, or is a sign of some future in which people no longer use vehicles in the way they were originally intended to be used. A startup called Rivian plans to produce this $69,000 electric pickup truck which has at least one nifty storage feature, but I have to wonder: Why on Earth is it a pickup truck?

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The bed appears too stubby to be of serious utility--you're not getting a full-size sheet of plywood into this thing--and more damningly, the "Specs" section of their website doesn't even list the bed length, which I imagine is a key point for any pickup user.

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There's no brush guard on the front, so although the vehicle has 4WD, apparently it's not meant to go off-road.

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There is a neat "storage tunnel" revealed by opening the panels just aft of the passenger doors. This tunnel appears to be enclosed, which would further reduce the bed capacity. In essence, the bed seems like little more than a trunk that allows rain inside of it.

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It is also rather neat that the front of the vehicle features a trunk, as it lacks an engine.

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Interestingly, the tailgate opens 180 degrees and features small flip-out stepping platforms.

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I just can't figure out why they're offering this as a pickup. The company's other vehicle is an SUV, which seems to make a lot more sense.

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In any case, the company is reportedly well-funded and will be debuting the pickup in 2020, to be followed by the SUV at a later date.

Cars

Rain Noe

Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.

8 Comments

David Appleman

5 months ago

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The smaller bed is not that uncommon, and vehicles like the Honda Ridgline and Toyota Tacoma sell well with them. Also, part of the role of brush guard on a non-electric vehicle is to protect the radiator from damage. Using more durable LED lighting and recessing the fixtures would offset the need for a brush guard. And when it goes on sale, I'm sure someone would like to sell some nice high-margin accessories!

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Juan Cano

5 months ago

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When the bed door is down, are you supposed to step on those silver handles? I can't imagine stepping off and having to aim for those, seems like an impending fall.

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r r

5 months ago

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I've been wishing for an electric pickup option. The bed is a bit shallower than I'd like but that's most likely where the battery bank is for weight distribution. That said, If I have a trunk and a truck bed, then I'd rather that weird aft cab cubby just be extra battery for increased range. Speaking of which, how do you write an article about an electric vehicle and not mention range?

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Anthony Towers

5 months ago

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Perfect for sliding in a dead body 😂

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P S

5 months ago

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Many truck buyers aren't buying for utility, they just want a truck regardless of how compromised it is as a truck. The suv looks pretty nice though, but it'd be even better with a sliding door for better access to the rear rows and a little more interior height - ie a van with nicer styling.

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Donald Jones

5 months ago

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Those machine guns have got to go.

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Jason Gifford

5 months ago

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I believe they chose that model because it's now the #1 "family car" in the US. they basically just copied the Ford F-150 4-door because it's the best selling vehicle in the US and now qualifies as a family car.

https://www.consumerreports.org/pickup-trucks/are-pickup-trucks-becoming-the-new-family-car/

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Luke Haney

5 months ago

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Well, this definitely brings a lot of questions to mind, the only thing I'm sure is answered is that it does look quite nice on the outside, and that's completely subjective. Having recently bought a 2018 Tacoma Sport 4x4 DCLB, apart from possibly feeling a little better about environmental aspects, it seems like taking on less for more $. I will admit that I love that behind cab option for storage, its unique and doesn't appear to impede the bed size too badly. The hood space is a given, +. I think the customer for this type of truck is generally one who would buy a Honda Ridgeline, one who isn't nuts about hauling or even off-roading and wants a truck that drives more like a car. It appears that this is a uni-body design too, like the Ridgeline. I agree with Juan that those silver handle/tie-down/steps seem a little dangerous. I think the most differentiating thing to see would be a comparison of space/utility/cost/maintenance costs. Rain, are there any sites that compare statistics on electric vehicles vs gas of comparable size/make?

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