Rivian has began deploying the massive industrial vans it builds for Amazon as cellular service autos for its rising fleet of client and industrial autos.
With a cargo capability of 500 cubic ft, Rivian’s Electrical Supply Automobile (EDV) – which is named Rivian Service Van – is a lot better fitted to the job than the R1T pickup the corporate has been utilizing up to now for gentle service jobs within the subject.
That is as a result of the van can deal with heavier and bulkier {hardware}, and may be custom-made for various cellular service wants, akin to altering wheels and tires.
“Every van is match with a wheel balancer, computerized tire changer, air compressor, hydraulic jack and stands, and modular shelving with the components and instruments to finish 80 % of all labor codes,” Rivian mentioned in a press launch asserting the deployment. “Every van additionally has a devoted 240v outlet to offer vehicle-to-vehicle charging.”
Rivian expects to have greater than 200 RSV vans in its cellular service fleet by the top of the yr, in contrast with about 100 R1T service vehicles.
The corporate says the autos present upkeep, restore, vehicle-to-vehicle charging, and quite a lot of different cellular service wants for greater than 35,000 Rivian autos.
In contrast to conventional automakers who use sellers to promote and repair their autos, Rivian sells on to the patron and has solely a restricted variety of bodily service places. That is why cellular service is essential to make sure a superb possession expertise.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe mentioned on an Instagram video submit final month that the corporate is constructing out a broad service community. “A few of that’s bodily service places – we’ve got about 35 of these right this moment – however a overwhelming majority of service is definitely being achieved with cellular service vans and cellular service vehicles.”
Within the video, Scaringe briefly confirmed one of many new RSV vans, that are white and have nature-themed graphics on the rear. The manager mentioned the inside of the vans may be custom-made with completely different service tools for various wants.
Rivian builds the electrical vans at its plant in Regular, Illinois, alongside the R1T pickup and R1S SUV. The corporate can also be seeking to promote its electrical supply van to extra industrial prospects than Amazon, and to that finish it’s reportedly in search of to finish the exclusivity clause of its electrical van take care of the e-commerce big.
