Get ready to see more electric delivery vans cruising through your neighborhood and along your routes. Rivian is preparing to expand sales of its commercial vans to customers beyond Amazon, starting in February.
Speaking at the Detroit Auto Show, where the vans are on display alongside Rivian’s R1T midsize pickup and R1S SUV, Erica Tsypin, director of fleet solutions, indicated that customers can anticipate both cost reductions and enhanced security due to the vans’ innovative drivetrain and other attributes. Test rides in the R1T and R1S are available until the show ends on January 20; the vans themselves are on display.
The RCV, or Rivian commercial van, boasts a modern design that incorporates advanced lighting and other features. Prices begin at $83,000. Rivian promises substantial operational and energy savings, alongside reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The vans are similar in appearance and functionality to those currently used by Amazon, a major investor in Rivian. Amazon has ordered 100,000 Rivian vans and received the first ones from the production line in Normal, Illinois.
Rivian is focusing on large fleet operators as it broadens its sales operations. Tsypin mentioned that clients will begin receiving the Delivery 500 and the larger Delivery 700 vans this spring.
Key Features include:
- 15.6-inch center touch screen
- Low step-in height for easy entry and exit
- Convenient hand-hold for entry
- Bright and recognizable LED headlights
- Rear halo safety lighting and taillights
- 360-degree cameras for parking and driver safety
- Automatic bulkhead door for cargo security and ergonomics
- Brightly lit cargo space with up to 6 feet, 10 inches of headroom
- Energy-saving “microclimate seats” for all-weather comfort
The automatic bulkhead door opens automatically when the driver puts the vehicle in park to deliver packages and closes when the vehicle is put in drive. A proximity sensor automatically shuts the door if the driver walks far enough away to potentially leave the cargo at risk.
The vans each come equipped with a 100 kWh battery. The Delivery 500 can travel 161 miles on a single charge, while the Delivery 700 offers a range of 153 miles. The 500 is 248.5 inches long with a 157.5-inch wheelbase. The 700 is 278 inches long and has a 187-inch-wheelbase.
Due to their usage in shifts, most charging is expected to happen overnight, using 240-volt current at depots. At that rate, the batteries add 17 miles of range per hour, and 86 miles per hour using a 50kW DC fast charger. The vans currently include a CCS DC charging port and an adapter for Tesla-style (NACS) chargers. While the R1T and R1S are incorporating built-in NACS ports, the vans will continue to be equipped with CCS ports.
Because Amazon has prioritized minimizing its carbon footprint, the company was the first to receive the Rivian vans. Amazon has committed to purchasing 100,000 vans by 2030. Amazon also buys electric vans from other manufacturers.
In 2024, Ford sold 12,160 electric E-Transit commercial vans. Stellantis’ Ram truck brand sells ProMaster EV vans, but it doesn’t break down sales numbers to differentiate electric from internal combustion models.
