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Rivian has begun delivering new powertrain options for its Electric Delivery Van and Rivian Commercial Van: a larger battery and an all-wheel-drive dual-motor version. The company says the variants are designed to extend delivery coverage into rural networks, with the larger pack offering a claimed 30% range increase over the standard battery. Final EPA range figures for the new configurations have not been released.
Rivian has started delivering new versions of its Electric Delivery Van (EDV) and Rivian Commercial Van (RCV), adding a larger battery and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive option intended to let delivery fleets serve more rural routes. The changes apply to Amazon-branded vans as well as the commercial model sold beyond Amazon, though Rivian has not published final range figures for the new configurations.
Rivian said in its third-quarter earnings report that deliveries of the new variants began in early October. The company described them as vehicles designed to expand route coverage into rural networks. One option is a larger-capacity battery that Rivian says delivers a 30% range increase compared with the standard pack; the other adds a motor to the rear axle for all-wheel drive.
EPA filings cited by InsideEVs list the larger battery’s usable capacity at 129 kilowatt-hours, compared with 90 kWh for the standard pack. The larger pack is available only on the long-wheelbase van. The AWD configuration is also limited to the long-wheelbase, 700 body version and pairs two Enduro motors, with a stated combined output of 710 horsepower (530 kilowatts).
The filings indicate an estimated range of about 220 miles for a front-wheel-drive EDV 700 equipped with the larger battery, or roughly 37% more than the standard-range version. A large-battery AWD EDV 700 is listed at approximately 200 miles. Those are figures from certification filings, not final published range numbers from Rivian; the company has not confirmed final EPA range ratings for the new variants.
Longer Routes for Electric Fleets
The added capacity and AWD give fleet operators more configurations to match vehicles to routes. A longer estimated range can reduce the need to return to a depot or recharge during a delivery shift, while all-wheel drive may help on routes with rougher surfaces or conditions that challenge a front-wheel-drive van. Rivian has specifically framed the changes as a way to extend coverage into rural delivery networks.
The upgrade also broadens the commercial van’s potential use beyond Amazon’s established delivery operation. Rivian’s RCV and Amazon’s EDV share the platform, and the new options are offered across both. That does not establish how many customers will choose them or how much additional route coverage they will achieve; those outcomes depend on fleet needs, charging access, payload, weather and route conditions.
There are practical trade-offs. The larger battery and added rear motor increase vehicle weight, which matters for payload planning and operating costs. The specification information reported by InsideEVs puts the fully equipped long-wheelbase van’s curb weight at 8,677 pounds, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds. Operators will need to account for that weight alongside cargo and equipment.
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Rivian’s commercial van is sold as the Electric Delivery Van for Amazon and as the Rivian Commercial Van for other business customers. Amazon’s order for 100,000 vans helped establish the program, but the two names refer to the commercial vehicle lineup rather than separate powertrain technologies. The new battery and AWD choices are intended to expand the range of configurations available to fleet buyers.
According to Cox Automotive data cited by InsideEVs, Rivian sold 15,685 EDVs and RCVs in the United States from January through September, making it the country’s best-selling electric commercial van over that period. That reported sales figure covers the combined models and the nine-month window; it does not indicate how many of the new variants have been ordered or delivered.
The standard and larger packs both use lithium iron phosphate cells, according to the report. Rivian’s vans have a CCS1 charging port and can accept up to 100 kW from a DC fast charger, while AC charging supports up to 11 kW. Rivian said NACS adapters would be available as an opt-out option for access to compatible fast-charging stations.
“In early October we began delivering new variants that are specifically designed to expand route coverage into more rural networks, including an AWD configuration as well as a larger battery pack that offers a 30% increase in range.”
— Rivian, in its third-quarter earnings report
Final Range and Fleet Uptake
Final EPA range ratings for the newly added powertrain combinations have not been disclosed by Rivian. The approximate 220-mile and 200-mile figures come from certification filing information reported by InsideEVs, and should not be treated as final company-published ratings. Rivian’s stated 30% improvement also compares the larger pack with the standard-range model, while the filing-based estimate of about 220 miles implies a different percentage against the standard EDV 700 figure.
It is not yet clear how many of the new vans have been delivered, how they will perform on actual delivery routes, or what their prices and delivery schedules are. The source material also does not specify whether the extra range will translate into fewer charging stops for any particular fleet. Payload, speed, temperature and route profile can all affect real-world range.
Range Ratings and Fleet Orders
The next useful details will be Rivian’s final range specifications, pricing and availability for each configuration, along with data from vehicles operating in customer fleets. Those details would help operators compare the larger battery’s added range with its weight and cost, and assess whether AWD is needed for their routes.
For now, Rivian has confirmed that deliveries of the new variants began in early October and has explained their intended role. Further information on customer uptake and real-world route performance has not been provided in the source material.
Key Questions
What changed in Rivian’s commercial van lineup?
Rivian added a 129-kWh larger battery and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive option to its EDV and RCV commercial van lineup. The larger battery has 90 kWh of usable capacity in the standard version for comparison.
How much farther can the larger-battery van travel?
Rivian says the larger pack offers a 30% range increase over the standard pack. EPA filing information reported by InsideEVs estimates about 220 miles for the front-wheel-drive EDV 700 with the larger battery and about 200 miles for the large-battery AWD version. Rivian has not released final range figures for those configurations.
Which versions can get the larger battery and AWD?
According to EPA filings cited by InsideEVs, the larger battery is limited to long-wheelbase vans. The AWD option is also exclusive to the 700 body version and uses two Enduro motors with a combined output of 710 horsepower.
When did deliveries of the new versions start?
Rivian said deliveries began in early October, according to its third-quarter earnings report. The report did not give a count of vehicles delivered with the new options.
Source: insideevs.com
