Rivian R2 will bring heat pump says CEO Scaringe

Rivian CEO, RJ Scaringe said that the Rivian R2 will bring a heat pump, an important accessory for electric vehicles (EVs) to keep the interior heat efficient in cold weather.

Compared to combustion engines, an EV cannot generate enough waste heat for the vehicle’s interior. In such a case, the vehicle could use a heat pump system that compresses refrigerant under high pressure. This heat produced by the pump is used to heat up flowing cold air.

This approach has less energy consumption compared to high-voltage heaters. The power requirements for heating the interior at an exterior temperature of less than 0 degrees is up to 40% less than in a vehicle without an energy-efficient heat pump.

Reduced power requirements consume less power and increase battery capacity and driving range.

Rivian R2 (Image Credit: Rivian)

Scaringe replied “Yes” to a question from X user “Does the R2 platform have a heat pump?”. This functionality is not available on R1T and R1S flagship vehicles instead these cars solely rely on heating systems like other EVs.

Earlier this month, Rivian revealed its new mid-sized electric SUV Rivian R2 featuring substantial upgrades over the R1S. However, a major change comes as its pricing starts at $45,000 but its deliveries will start in the first half of 2026.