[Kanundrum]

Was just about to post from my other post

 

[JimmyEV]

So if I'm reading this right, the design is meant to open farther than a conventional sliding door?

 

[DenChung]

So if I'm reading this right, the design is meant to open farther than a conventional sliding door?

Not just farther, but farther than the rear of the vehicle. With this design, the door opening isn't restricted by the length of the rear rail, meaning the back of the door can slide beyond the end of the rail, and therefore the back of the van. The advantage is that you can have a shorter vehicle without restricting how far the door opens.

For that reason, I don't think this is for a delivery van, because for commercial uses, you want a longer back for increased storage capacity. If Rivian wants a compact rear, that suggests a passenger vehicle to me. That they used what looks like a 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey as an example of current sliding door design supports that theory.

 

[JimmyEV]

Not just farther, but farther than the rear of the vehicle. With this design, the door opening isn't restricted by the length of the rear rail, meaning the back of the door can slide beyond the end of the rail, and therefore the back of the van. The advantage is that you can have a shorter vehicle without restricting how far the door opens.

For that reason, I don't think this is for a delivery van, because for commercial uses, you want a longer back for increased storage capacity. If Rivian wants a compact rear, that suggests a passenger vehicle to me. That they used what looks like a 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey as an example of current sliding door design supports that theory.

Hmm that's interesting. I guess Rivian sees the potential of adding a minivan to their lineup. I wouldn't have expected that.

 

[fallen888]

Hmm that's interesting. I guess Rivian sees the potential of adding a minivan to their lineup. I wouldn't have expected that.

Yeah, I didn't expect it either. But I guess if anyone can make a van/minivan look sexy and badass at the same time, it's Rivian.

 

[JimmyEV]

Yeah, I didn't expect it either. But I guess if anyone can make a van/minivan look sexy and badass at the same time, it's Rivian.

Yeah that's true. The more that I think about it an overlanding/camping focused minivan could appeal to a lot of people. At the very least they could try and be one of the first to bring an electric passenger van to market. The only other one I can think of is the VW revival of the hippie van.

 

[drcarric2650]

Yeah, I'm for the overlanding van, hope they patent some slide outs, to go with it.

 

[R99]

Yeah, I'm for the overlanding van, hope they patent some slide outs, to go with it.

If they have this patent I'd have to think their engineers are working on a bunch of other similar stuff.