Rivian R1S Reviews are out - hints at possibilities for an all-electric Wrangler?

[Zandcwhite]

Simple math would deduce it will take a huge 180 KW battery to go 200 miles, which is likely optimistic given the weight penalty of a huge battery, the aerodynamics of a brick, and the drag of 33 or 35” tires. I. don’t see a JL Wrangler EV anytime soon. I love the concept…it just doesn’t work yet.

A JLU is much larger than a Tesla, and yet they've been able to fit 185kwh batteries for years. Batteries are heavy, but so is the engine, trans, and transfer case that wouldn't be required. The massive aero improvement of not having air flow through the grill/radiator and creating a bunch of turbulence on its way out combined with a perfectly smooth flat belly will go a long way. Compare an R1S to a wrangler, it's not all that more aerodynamic or smaller. It's substantially heavier. It's still shaped like a brick. And yet they are offering it with up to a 400 mile range? How on earth is the tech not already there to build a 300+ mile wrangler EV? A couple magna beam axles under a R1S chassis and swap the body out for a current production JLU and done. If I had the $200k it would take to buy the axles and 2 donor vehicles I could build it in my garage.

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