The race among the automakers to stand out in the market of EV companies is inevitable. It has led to the adoption of various strategies and innovations. Apart from the quality of its vehicles, Rivian has managed to stand out. It is one of the few EV manufacturers to outsource its electrical motors.
Why Is Rivian Outsourcing Electric Motors?
All the automobile manufacturers have been struggling with the same problem for quite some time now. The problem is “how to improve the manufacturing speed?” There is no end to the demand for electric vehicles. In such a situation, the pressure on the manufacturers is immense. To cope with the demand, Rivian has developed a helpful strategy.
Outsourcing electrical motors reduce the hassle of manufacturing that comes with insourcing. The reduced burden accelerates the speed of automobile manufacturing. In turn, it speeds up the development of new models. Rivian has successfully cracked the master plan of improved production. It might be the reason behind their quicker introduction of new models.
The Strategy Of The Competitors
Rivian’s strategy for electric motors is quite different from other big names in the industry. Tesla manufactures its electrical motors in-house, like many other of its parts. It considers electrical motors a very crucial part of EV. Recently, Tesla Model S and X Plaid feature electric motors with carbon-sleeved rotors.
Likewise, Lucid Motors takes pride in insourcing its electrical motors. Lucid Motors goes through the hassle of manufacturing electric motors. It is to ensure the compactness and stability of the motor.
Modifications Revealed By Rivian
Rivian has revealed the technical modifications for the year 2022 in its quarterly update. It is coming up with LFP cells, in-house motor technology, and an 800 V battery pack, to name a few. Rivian is all set towards a “new pack architecture with all these modifications.”
The lithium-iron phosphate cell is also known as the LFP cell. It is an excellent alternative to the commonly used NCA cell, which is high in Nickel content. In the U.S. auto-market, LFP cells are quite a new concept as they were only included in the recently launched Tesla Model 3.
The introduction of in-house motor technology in the upcoming models is big news from Rivian. By the end of 2022, this new technology will be seen in Rivian vans, then into Rivian R1T in the second half of 2023.
Rivian has built 100 pre-production drive units including the new motor technology. They are under testing. It aims to gain cost-effectiveness, give accessible price points, and expand the target audience.
As for the 800V battery pack, Rivian says to include an onboard charger. Along with this, two converters, a DC-to-DC, and a DC-to-AC converter are also included. The power stages in these converters are bi-directional. In 2018, Rivian’s electric trucks, which had a 400V battery, were designed with the ability to be upgraded to 800V.
Conclusion
There are very few brands that outsource electric motors. It is good to see Rivian making modifications as per market trends. The use of LFP cells is an excellent example of it, as its use in Amazon delivery vans will be profitable to Rivian.
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