The Rivian Max battery pack has been mentioned in many articles as 180kWh. However, Rivian have now released details of the upgrade and it is a cell upgrade from the Samsung 50G to the 53G.
Summary
- Samsung 50G cell upgraded to Samsung 53G
- Same format cell has allowed Rivian to keep the battery design and swap out the cell for one with 6% more energy
- at the minimum cell capacity specification the total energy increase is just 4.9%
- The cell is only 1g heavier, but when you have 7,776 cells this adds up to an overall increase of 7.8kg
- Overall increase in total energy equals 8.5kWh at pack level.
- Additional cost is $10,000 to the customer with a part cost increase to Rivian that is perhaps just $850.
- Range increase from 352 miles to 410 miles is a 16.5% improvement and hence with just 6% more energy they have also made gains elsewhere in terms of efficiency.
Note: in addition it appears that Rivian have made some efficiency gains and hence the numbers are not completely clear.
135kWh Specifications
- usable energy = 135 kWh (total = 141.1kWh)
- Usable Window: 95.7%
- minimum total energy = 138.3kWh
- Peak power ~ 690kW
- nominal pack capacity = 360 Ah
- Nominal pack voltage = 392V
- Maximum = 459 V
- Minimum = 216 V
- weight [kg]: 795.9 kg
- Cell mass = 540.4kg
- Cell to pack mass ration = 67.9%
- Pack Configuration = 108s72p
- Total number of cells = 7776
- Modules: 9
- Number of Cells per Module = 864
- two layers of 462 cells (12s72p)
- separated by a cooling plate.
- Number of Cells per Module = 864
143kWh Specifications
- usable energy = 143.1 kWh (total = 149.6kWh)
- Usable Window: 95.7%
- minimum total energy = 145.1kWh
- Peak power ~ 550kW
- nominal pack capacity = 381.6 Ah
- Nominal pack voltage = 392V
- Maximum = 459 V
- Minimum = 216 V
- weight [kg]: 803.7 kg
- Cell mass = 548.2kg
- Cell to pack mass ration = 68.2%
- Pack Configuration = 108s72p
- Total number of cells = 7776
- Modules: 9
- Number of Cells per Module = 864
- two layers of 462 cells (12s72p)
- separated by a cooling plate.
- Number of Cells per Module = 864
At this point our assumption is that the usable window is the same 95.7% for both battery packs. There is a hint that the larger pack might have a slightly smaller usable window. Not sure yet if the peak power capability is the same as the original 135kWh pack is available with 4 motors and 835bhp => 835 x 0.746 / 0.9 ~ 690kW whereas the max pack vehicle has 665bhp => 665 x 0.746 / 0.9 ~ 550kW.
Cooling
- Module two halfs are joined by a thermal management or a cold plate.
- Cooling fluid = Ethylene Glycol through a brazed Aluminium enclosure.
Charging
- Peak charge Power = 210 kW
- charge time [minutes]:
- Onboard Board Charger: 11.5kW (AC Level 2) with 25 miles range per hour of charge.
- DC Charger: upto 140 miles of range in 20 mins
Cell
- cell make and model = Samsung 50G
- cell format = Cylindrical 21700
- Nominal Voltage = 3.63 V
- Nominal Capacity = 5 Ah
- minimum capacity = 4.9Ah
- Cell mass = 69.5g
- Dimensions:
- Diameter = 21.10mm
- Height = 70.15mm
Cooling
- Module two halfs are joined by a thermal management or a cold plate.
- Cooling fluid = Ethylene Glycol through a brazed Aluminium enclosure.
Charging
- Peak charge Power = 210 kW
- charge time [minutes]:
- Onboard Board Charger: 11.5kW (AC Level 2) with 25 miles range per hour of charge.
- DC Charger: upto 140 miles of range in 20 mins
Cell
- cell make and model = Samsung 53G
- cell format = Cylindrical 21700
- Nominal Voltage = 3.63 V
- Nominal Capacity = 5.3 Ah
- minimum capacity = 5.14Ah
- cell mass = 70.5g
- Dimensions:
- Diameter = 21.15mm
- Height = 70.00mm
This post has been built based on the support and sponsorship from: Eatron Technologies, About:Energy, AVANT Future Mobility, Quarto Technical Services, TAE Power Solutions and The Limiting Factor.
References
- What The Heck Rivian! Max Pack Is Super Lame, Especially For The Price, Out of Spec Podcast
- Rivian’s New R1T Pickup Can Cruise for 410 Miles on a Single Charge, Robb Report
- Rivian R1T Performance Dual-Motor AWD MP, EVKX
Rivian R1T Benchmarking
A look at the Rivian module and pack design and more of the specifications.