Electric vehicles are known to offer reduced range during colder weather. However, the Rivian R2 will be equipped to minimize the driving range loss with a heat pump, as revealed by the company’s CEO on Twitter. He also confirmed that the R3 would offer an optional tow hitch.
Cold weather is a reality for many EV owners, and people who drive under such conditions will be relieved to learn that the upcoming Rivian R2 will be equipped with a heat pump. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe confirmed this feature in a response to an X user who asked if the R2 platform would have a heat pump.
https://x.com/llama_traveler/status/1767888269541306773?s=20
Interestingly, Scaringe’s response was to a question about the R2 platform, not just the R2. This implies that other EVs based on the platform powering the R2 would also have a heat pump.
Heat pumps are sought after by EV buyers because they allow the interior of the car to get heated about four times more efficiently, leading to improved driving ranges. This is because heat pumps work by taking heat from one place to another instead of the usual resistive heaters which are powered by the car’s battery.
The R1T and R1S do not have a heat pump. Rivian fans can expect the R2 in 2026 when the EV startup says it will commence production and will start from $47,000. The car garnered more than 68,000 reservations in less than 24 hours.
