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Rivian has started delivering expanded powertrain options for its Commercial Van, including a larger battery and an all-wheel-drive version. The company says the additions are intended to extend service into rural delivery networks; final EPA range figures for the new configurations have not been announced.
Rivian has begun delivering commercial electric vans with a larger battery and an available dual-motor all-wheel-drive option, adding configurations the company says are designed to reach more rural delivery routes. The upgrades apply to both the Amazon-branded Electric Delivery Van (EDV) and Rivian’s broader Commercial Van, or RCV, lineup.
Rivian said in its third-quarter earnings report that deliveries of the new variants started in early October. The larger battery is advertised as offering about 30% more range than the standard pack, while the AWD version adds a motor on the rear axle. Both new options are limited to the long-wheelbase 700 body, according to the report and EPA filing details cited by InsideEVs.
The filing lists the larger pack at 129 kilowatt-hours of usable capacity, compared with 90 kWh for the standard battery. Both packs use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. EPA certification information cited by InsideEVs puts the front-wheel-drive EDV 700 with the larger battery at roughly 220 miles of range, around 37% above the standard-range version. The larger-battery AWD van is estimated at about 200 miles, but Rivian has not published final range figures for the new configurations.
The AWD system pairs two Enduro electric motors and has a stated combined output of 710 horsepower, or 530 kilowatts. The added battery and motor bring extra weight: specifications cited in the report indicate the fully equipped long-wheelbase van has a curb weight of 8,677 pounds and a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds. The standard-battery, front-wheel-drive short-wheelbase model is listed at about 7,000 pounds with a 9,500-pound GVWR.
More Options for Rural Delivery Routes
The new configurations address a practical limitation for fleets: a van that can cover more miles between charges, or handle routes where traction is less predictable, may serve delivery areas that are harder to cover with a standard-range front-wheel-drive vehicle. Rivian specifically described the additions as intended to expand coverage into rural networks. That is the company’s stated purpose; the report does not provide route-performance results or evidence of how many additional routes the vans can now serve.
For Amazon and other fleet customers, range and drivetrain choices affect vehicle assignment, charging plans and the geography a depot can serve. A larger battery may reduce the need for charging during a workday, while AWD can offer added traction. Those potential benefits come with trade-offs: the bigger pack and second motor add weight, and the AWD version’s estimated range is lower than the larger-battery front-wheel-drive version. Fleet operators will need to match the configuration to route demands rather than assume the most powerful option is best for every job.
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From Amazon EDV to Broader Fleet Sales
Rivian’s commercial van has been sold in an Amazon-branded EDV version and as the RCV for other commercial customers. Amazon’s 100,000-van order helped establish the model’s presence, according to the source report. Rivian has also described its commercial model as the leading electric commercial van in the United States; Cox Automotive data cited by InsideEVs recorded 15,685 EDVs and RCVs sold from January through September. That figure covers both names and does not, by itself, specify how many were delivered to Amazon.
Before the additions, the lineup included a standard battery and front-wheel drive. The new pack retains LFP chemistry but increases usable capacity from 90 to 129 kWh. The vans have a CCS1 charging port with DC fast charging of up to 100 kW, and support AC charging at up to 11 kW from a 240-volt Level 2 charger. Rivian said NACS adapters would be offered as an opt-out option, allowing use of compatible NACS fast chargers.
“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 figures for the newly added configurations have not been announced by Rivian, and the approximately 220-mile and 200-mile figures cited in the report should be treated as estimates drawn from certification information. The source material also does not specify pricing, how many vans are being produced in each configuration, or how many customers have ordered them.
It remains unclear how widely fleet operators will choose AWD over the front-wheel-drive option, or whether the new range and traction capabilities will result in measurable expansion of routes. Rivian has described the intended benefit, but the available information does not include customer operating data or comparisons from real-world delivery schedules.
Watch for Final Ratings and Orders
The new variants are already being delivered, according to Rivian, so the next useful information will be finalized range ratings, pricing and evidence of customer uptake. Fleet orders and operating results could show whether the larger pack and AWD configuration are being used to extend routes beyond existing service areas.
Rivian’s next company updates may also clarify production volumes and the mix of EDV and RCV configurations. Until those details are released, the confirmed development is the start of deliveries—not a quantified increase in route coverage.
Key Questions
What changed in Rivian’s commercial van lineup?
Rivian added a 129-kWh usable-capacity battery and an available dual-motor AWD configuration. Both options are for the long-wheelbase 700 van, according to the cited filing information.
How much farther can the larger-battery van travel?
Rivian describes the larger pack as providing about 30% more range than the standard pack. EPA filing information cited by InsideEVs indicates roughly 220 miles for the front-wheel-drive EDV 700 with the larger battery; final figures for the new versions have not been released.
What range is estimated for the AWD version?
The larger-battery EDV 700 with AWD is estimated at about 200 miles per charge in the report. Rivian has not published a final range rating for that configuration.
Why is Rivian adding AWD and a bigger battery?
Rivian said the variants are designed to expand coverage into rural delivery networks. The company has not provided operating data showing how many additional routes they can serve.
Source: insideevs.com
