Rivian has started rolling out its 2025.18 over-the-air (OTA) software update, delivering a number of major enhancements for R1T and R1S owners including improved charging performance and greater control over energy use, while also improving vehicle security.
Smarter Charging and Energy Monitoring
With this update Rivian has released a completely redesigned Energy app. With the redesign, the app is now split into two sections – Charging and Energy Monitor. The Charging tab displays detailed graphs and real-time data on how much energy is flowing into the vehicle during a charging session.
Meanwhile, the Energy Monitor gives owners a breakdown of energy consumption by systems like HVAC, outlets, and drive motors—helping drivers understand exactly where energy is being used. (via The Verge)
Rivian has also introduced a “Trip Target” feature, which calculates the ideal battery level needed for the next leg of a journey and alerts the driver once it’s reached. This helps reduce charging times, optimizing both efficiency and battery longevity.
On-Demand Battery Preconditioning
Rivian has also added manual battery preconditioning, a long-requested feature by owners. Now, you can warm or cool the battery pack on demand, without the need to input a charger as the navigation destination. This feature significantly enhances DC fast charging speeds, particularly for cold climates or long trips.
When preconditioning is activated, a banner on the vehicle display indicates the process status so drivers know when their battery is at the ideal temperature for charging.
Improved Charging Performance
Both first and second-generation R1 vehicles are getting improved charging speeds. Owners of Gen 2 models with the Large battery pack will see the most dramatic improvement, with peak rates reaching 215 kW. This allows drivers to add up to 15% of range in just 15 minutes, reducing the time needed to go from 10% to 80% charge.
Multi-Factor Drive
The 2025.18 update also introduces Multi-factor Drive, a new security feature requiring app-based authentication before the vehicle can be driven. Similar to Tesla’s “PIN to Drive,” this adds a second layer of protection and supports access via smartphone or smartwatch.
Up Next: Smart Charging and Bidirectional Power
Rivian’s software roadmap includes the upcoming Smart Charging feature, allowing owners to schedule charging sessions during off-peak utility hours to save on electricity costs. In 2026, bidirectional charging is expected to debut, enabling Rivian vehicles to power homes, devices, or even other EVs.
Here are the full 2025.18 Rivian software update release notes. (via RivianTrackr)
Multi-factor Drive
You can now enable Multi-factor Drive to require a second form of authentication before starting your vehicle. This industry-leading feature increases the security of your vehicle by requiring you to authenticate each time you drive it. When Multi-factor Drive is enabled and you press the brake to shift out of P (Park), a notification appears on the center display. Then you can authenticate from the Rivian mobile app, version 3.1 or later, or via the actionable notification on your smartwatch. If you do not receive the notification, you can also enter a time-based passcode that displays on your smartphone.
To enable Multi-factor Drive, log in to the primary owner account in the Rivian mobile app, go to Security and access, and turn on Multi-factor Drive.
NOTE
- Only a vehicle owner can enable or disable Multi-factor Drive. The setting applies to all drivers and keys associated with the vehicle.
- When Multi-factor Drive is enabled, a driver won’t be able to drive the vehicle using the key fob or key card without authentication.
- To approve a driver, the driver must have a Rivian account associated with the key and the key must be paired with the vehicle.
- As a backup option, the driver can also access a time-based passcode on their smartphone. Go to Security and access and choose View time-based passcode.
- To use Multi-factor Drive, all drivers must have a Rivian mobile app version 3.1 or later installed on their smartphone.
New Rivian Energy App
The new Rivian Energy app introduced features and improvements to increase your understanding and control over your vehicle’s energy consumption while driving, parked, or charging. In addition, you can now precondition your battery on demand for fast charging and view your charge curve in the vehicle with improved charge time accuracy. This can help with trip planning and provide greater peace of mind by making your energy usage easier to understand and visualize.
Energy Monitor Tab
- Projected range impact: Increase your understanding of your actual energy consumption versus what’s expected while driving and while in P (Park). You can gain insight into how your driving behavior affects your range and get useful driving tips. You can also view your parked energy usage on the Rivian mobile app.
- Usage: Dive deep into your energy usage over selectable timeframes.
- Session details: View a comprehensive distribution of systems in your vehicle that are consuming energy, including Gear Guard, outlets, and climate.
Charging Tab
- Graph: Visualize your active or latest charging session with an interactive graph.
- Target level for charging stops: When using navigation for a trip that includes a charging stop, now it’s easy to see the recommended charge target for your trip from the vehicle or the Rivian mobile app. Simply start your charge, and the app will calculate and notify you (both in the vehicle and on the Rivian mobile app) when you’ve reached the ideal charge level for your trip.
- On-demand battery preconditioning: Precondition your battery on demand for fast charging. The system heats or cools the battery to the optimal temperature for fast charging.
View the new Energy app on your center display and on the Rivian mobile app, version 3.1 or later.
Charging Improvements
We’ve improved DC fast charging performance and consistency for all battery pack variants. All battery pack variants now have improved charge times and expanded capability across a larger range of temperatures.
- Max Pack and Standard Pack: Optimized charging algorithms to reduce the time required when charging the battery from 10% to 80%.
- Large Pack: Optimized charging algorithms to:
- Improve peak charge rate.
- Reduce the time required when charging the battery from 10% to 80%
- Increase the number of miles added in the first 15 minutes of charging.
Additional Improvements
- Fixed a rare issue that caused camera views and recorded videos to be unavailable in the Gear Guard app.
- Enhanced the vehicle visualizations with new, more details vehicle models on the driver display.
- Enhanced the driver display to show a great number of vehicles across five lanes and in more diverse situations, such as cross-traffic, oncoming traffic, and parked vehicles.
- Improved the stability and responsiveness of the infotainment system.
- Improved the performance and stability of media apps.
- Optimized low voltage battery management to improve long-term battery health.
