The wonderful Tank Flip characteristic that Rivian confirmed off method again in December 2019 received lots of truck and off-road lovers speaking, for good purpose. 

The mode confirmed off the opportunity of utilizing all 4 of the electrical motors in Quad Motor R1T and R1S electrical vans to rotate the car round and round in primarily the identical house, given a floor that was the correct amount of slippery. 

It was a jaw-dropping transfer that Rivian managed to program in—making use of propulsion to the wheels in reverse instructions on the left and proper sides of the car, in a really managed method, that might be subsequent to unimaginable to engineer into a standard roadgoing gasoline SUV.

Rivian Tank Flip

In an Instagram Q&A session posted Friday, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe nonetheless sounded excited in regards to the concept, explaining how with the instantaneous torque (in both route) of electrical motors plus an array of refined controls and a suggestions loop, “you possibly can create a torque second the place the car rotates on its heart axis like a tank.”

However Scaringe defined (beneath) why the Tank Flip characteristic will doubtless by no means make it right into a manufacturing truck. 

Electrical vans have to tread frivolously, too

No, Scaringe didn’t point out legal professionals or regulators placing the kibosh on it. 

The reason being easy, if the scar that the truck left within the video isn’t sufficient to underscore the purpose already. The Tank Flip has the potential to be actually damaging. 

Scaringe mentioned that over the past yr and a half, Rivian determined that whereas it may implement the Tank Flip, it’s simply not in step with the corporate’s messaging to tread frivolously. 

“It is so simply abused and so exhausting to make it possible for we do not tear up trails and actually do issues which can be in distinction to what we stand for as an organization,” he summed, noting that it didn’t really feel congruent with how Rivian preaches respecting the paths and never leaving ruts or injury. 

This doubtless means that one other patented Rivian parlor trick, Ok-Flip Mode, can also be a no-go. However the off-road prowess of the structure itself stays the promoting level. And as almost everybody who’s gone off-roading in an EV will agree, the intense finesse and precision at which electrical propulsion programs can ship torque makes off-roading way more gratifying and fewer nerve-wracking. Rivian does already benefit from this with distinct drive modes for the R1T and R1S.

Mercedes-Benz EQG prototype

Though it’s unclear whether or not Rivian may need dibs on the concept, Mercedes has already additionally teased the concept for its upcoming EQG electrical SUV, calling it a G-Flip.

Rivian is within the means of beginning deliveries of its Twin Motor vans, which characteristic the corporate’s personal, cost-saving Enduro drive unit, together with motor and discount gear. They’ll ultimately be utilized to Quad Motor variations, too.