Electric vehicle startup Rivian has previewed the innovative tank turn feature that will be available with both the R1T pickup and R1S SUV models.
The world first caught its glimpse of Rivian’s tank turn back in July but this is the first official video from the company. A ‘tank turn’ is achievable in the Rivian R1T and R1S models because they feature independent electric motors at each wheel and can spin around on the spot much like a tracked vehicle such as a tank – hence the nickname.
EV Tech Everyone Can Enjoy: The Rivian R1T Will Have A Tank Turn Feature And Spin On The Spot
Rivian filed to trademark the terms Tank Turn and Tank Steer with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on October 24, 2018. It’s reported that the feature will only be available on dirt and gravel roads to make sure the electric motors don’t suffer any damage if a tank turn were to be attempted on a high-grip surface like a paved road. Considering how much power the EVs will deliver, however, we wouldn’t be surprised to see owners attempting tank turns on paved roads.
This year has proved to be exceptionally important for Rivian. In February, the company secured $700 million in an investment round led by Amazon. Shortly after, Ford invested a massive $500 million in Rivian and will use some of the startup’s technologies for its future hybrid and electric vehicles. In September, it secured $350 million from Cox Automotive and earlier this week, announced a $1.3 billion investment led by mutual fund company T.Rowe Price.