Rivian R1T proves electric trucks can cross deep water

Self-proclaimed off-road vehicles come with impressive water paddling capabilities, and Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe showed it off in a video he recently posted on Twitter. In this video, the Rivian R1T wades through water to nearly the top of its hood.

Rivian's website states that the EV1T is over 3 feet deep, but as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The EV startup also cites a 34-degree approach angle, 29.3-degree departure angle, 25.7-degree breaker angle, and up to 14.9 inches of ground clearance for the R1T electric pickup truck, the first production vehicle for the retail market.

Rivian plans to launch the R1S SUV shortly after the R1T. Based on the same skateboard platform as the pickup, the R1S has the same wading depth and ground clearance and seats seven passengers. Other off-road related specs include a 34.3-degree approach angle, 33.7-degree departure angle, and 28.9-degree breaker angle.

Both vehicles were unveiled in concept form at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, with pre-orders beginning late last year. The company has raised $10.5 billion since 2019, counting Ford and Amazon as investors. It has vehicle development agreements with these companies, including an electric delivery van for Amazon, and appears to be planning an initial public offering (IPO).

However, aside from a handful of Amazon vans, Rivian has yet to deliver any vehicles to customers; deliveries of the R1T and R1S were originally scheduled to begin in late 2020 but were postponed to summer 2021 due to a coronavirus outbreak. Rivian then confirmed a further postponement, pushing back the first R1T deliveries to September 2021, with deliveries of the first R1S expected to begin shortly thereafter.