Not all cool concepts are good concepts. Case in level: Remember that candy video from 2019 of a Rivian RT1 truck spinning in an ideal circle utilizing one thing known as “Tank Turn?” Well, it received’t be coming to a Rivian product close to you any time quickly.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe broke EV truck customers hearts throughout an Instagram Q & A when he revealed that the characteristic was scrapped for being far too damaging to the paths and nature areas the corporate is devoted to defending.
The Tank Turn concerned an RT1 or RS1 spinning like a corkscrew inside its personal footprint. The act of a 8,500 pound truck able to hitting 60 miles per hour from a lifeless cease in solely three seconds apparently tears up the bottom a bit. Who knew! Even within the promotional video you’ll be able to inform the maneuver goes to be an issue:
The spin chews up the bottom, and that’s not good for off-roading trails the place house owners may check out this neat trick. As Road & Track factors out, that’s not the one concern the corporate had concerning the maneuver:
Add within the considerations shared with Motor Trend in 2021 about how troublesome the turns are for a buyer to wrap their heads round at velocity and the characteristic appears unlikely to land in an R1S or R1T any time quickly.
While the “Tank Turn” itself clearly labored successfully (and at surprisingly excessive speeds) within the video, the clip additionally provides a reasonably good concept of how a lot harm a 7000-lb truck can do to a path because it spins in place. As the overhead digicam angle exhibits, the R1T successfully turns into a boring gadget digging a divot into the filth under. That might significantly harm trails over time by producing new crater-like ruts, which might, clearly, go towards the environmental objectives behind a go-anywhere electrical truck.
Ford was additionally reportedly eyeing the tank flip for the Ford F-150 Lightning, however hopefully it is going to attain the identical conclusion as Rivian. Rivian has had its ups and downs in current months. This 12 months began on a nasty notice with a $1.35 billion loss within the first quarter and a bunch of pissed off prospects offended over a worth hike. Still, the posh EV truck maker expects to hit its 2023 purpose of fifty,000 automobiles produced.
Source: jalopnik.com