Rivian, Michigan’s newest electric vehicle manufacturer, is patenting a modular bed system for its R1T electric pickup truck, according to the freshly minted Rivian forums. It will allow owners to turn their standard pickup truck to a flatbed-style truck, a truck with a big or small cap or the standard bed with rails for toting other sorts of adventure equipment like dirt bikes.
According to the patent, "removable structural models include a removable recreation module; a removable delivery module; a removable open box utility module; a removable flatbed support module; and a removable side rail module.”
Also according to the filing, the R1T will use sensors to read what module is installed and adjust the steering, suspension and braking to fit the application.
If you’re not familiar with the R1T, here are the basics: The best version will get a 400-plus-mile range from a 180-kWh battery pack; others will get slightly less. It’s built on what Rivian calls a skateboard platform meaning the battery packs, drive units, suspension, braking and thermal system are all packaged below the top of the wheels, leaving all of the space above for passengers and cargo.
Output from the big battery is rated at 700 hp and 826 lb-ft with a motor at each wheel, good for a 3.2-second sprint to 60 mph.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2020, when both the 180-kWh and 135-kWh models will be available. A base variant will follow within 12 months, according to Rivian. Pricing starts at $61,500 after the federal tax rebate, and the company is also accepting refundable deposits of $1,000.
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