For years, Rivian owners have had to play detective to figure out exactly how much life is left in their battery packs. Whether it’s comparing current maximum range to original "as-new" figures or diving into third-party API tools to see the estimated usable kWh, getting a straight answer has been a bit of a chore. However, that is finally about to change.
According to EPA certification documentation for the R2 that surfaced online earlier this week, Rivian is officially working on a dedicated battery health menu. This new feature will be delivered to vehicles via a future over-the-air (OTA) software update, bringing a level of transparency to the "About" screen that owners have been requesting for a long time.
What’s Coming to the Battery Menu
The leaked documentation reveals that the new menu will provide several key data points that were previously hidden from the user interface. Owners will soon be able to see:
Battery state of health: A clear percentage representing the pack’s current capacity relative to when it was new.
Distance since last updated: A timestamp of sorts showing when the health metric was last calculated.
Max potential charge rate: The peak speed at which your specific pack can currently accept power.
Current charge rate: Real-time data on how fast the vehicle is charging at that moment.
Currently, owners who want this level of detail often have to navigate into Rivian’s hidden RiDE (service) mode and do some quick math or rely on third-party telemetry services. Being able to pull up an exact number for battery state of health without doing some mental gymnastics or needing a service visit is a massive win for long-term ownership confidence.
Timing and the R2 Connection
While the R2 EPA certificate confirmed the feature's existence, there is no official word yet on exactly when it will roll out to the fleet. The Rivian lineup is currently overdue for a major software update, and we expect one to start rolling out publicly in the coming weeks.
It is possible that this menu will debut alongside the first R2 Performance deliveries later this spring. Since the R2 is built on a new architecture with a native heat pump and updated battery specs, launching a more detailed health menu at the same time makes a lot of sense for the brand's next-gen push.
Providing this level of transparency is a smart move by Rivian. As these vehicles age and enter the used market, having a "certified" battery health percentage visible in the settings will be a crucial tool for both current owners and future buyers. It’s exactly the kind of "pro-consumer" software move that separates modern EV makers from traditional legacy brands.
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Rivian has built a reputation on outfitting its vehicles with unique capabilities designed specifically for off-road environments. While its engineers previously experimented with a Tank Turn feature that allowed the R1T to spin completely in place, that feature was ultimately scrapped due to the severe environmental damage it caused to trails.
However, a newly published patent titled "Systems and Methods for Providing a Vehicle with a Torque Vectored K-Turn Mode" (US12576849 B2) reveals that Rivian’s engineers have developed a new, more refined solution for navigating impossibly tight corners.
The Evolution of the Turn
The core concept behind this new patent is to use Rivian’s independent motor architecture to control how the vehicle rotates about its own chassis. When a standard vehicle turns, the turning radius is limited by how far the front wheels can physically pivot. The newly patented Kick-Turn Mode bypasses this physical limitation by applying opposing forces to the front and rear axles.
Kick Turn helps your Quad pivot like it’s got dance moves. That's the magic of four motors with fully independent torque vectoring.
According to the patent, the vehicle’s control circuitry constantly monitors the steering wheel input. When a driver turns the steering wheel past a specified threshold (for example, past 70 percent of its maximum rotation or after completing 2.5 full revolutions), the system automatically engages the Kick-Turn Mode.
Once engaged, the vehicle fundamentally changes how it distributes power. When the driver presses the accelerator, the system provides forward torque to the turned front wheels while simultaneously applying backward torque to the rear wheels.
This opposing torque distribution creates a unique physical dynamic. The forward torque causes the turned front wheels to intentionally slip laterally across the ground, pulling the front of the vehicle through the turn.
Meanwhile, the backward torque applied to the rear wheels keeps them in substantial static contact with the ground. By anchoring the rear wheels and sliding the front wheels, the vehicle effectively pivots around a point located directly underneath the rear chassis, resulting in a dramatically tighter turning radius than a conventional steering maneuver could ever achieve.
The Front Dig Mode Alternative
The patent also details a secondary, less aggressive turning feature called "Front Dig Mode". This mode is engaged when the steering wheel is turned past a "lower turn threshold" (for example, 1.5 revolutions) but hasn't yet reached the full Kick-Turn threshold.
Rivian Wave
In Front Dig Mode, the system provides forward torque to the turned front wheels and forward torque to the outer rear wheel. However, the system actively applies resistance, either by applying the physical brake or inducing backward torque, to the inner rear wheel. This essentially drags the inner rear wheel, acting as a pivot anchor that tightens the turn radius, though not quite to the extreme degree of the full Kick-Turn Mode.
Intelligent Safeguards
Rivian's patent notes that these torque-vectored turns require precise control. The vehicle's control circuitry constantly monitors wheel slip, vehicle rotation rate, and throttle input. If the system detects that the vehicle is rotating too fast, or if a rear wheel begins to slip during a Kick-Turn, the computer will instantly adjust the torque output or apply the brakes to correct the maneuver and ensure the vehicle remains stable.
The system can even detect if the vehicle is on an incline or a banked surface and automatically adjust the torque distribution to compensate for gravity. Rivian’s Kick-Turn feature is currently available on 2nd-Generation Quad-Motor R1S and R1T variants. It is not available for Gen 1 Quad-Motor vehicles due to changes in the ECU and drivetrain architectures.
Rivian has always prided itself on building vehicles tailored for outdoor adventures, and those adventures typically include bringing along your pets. A newly published patent titled "Animal Interaction Based Vehicle Configuration" reveals that Rivian is developing an upgrade to its pet-friendly features.
The highly detailed document outlines an ecosystem that goes far beyond basic climate control, introducing automated boarding, intelligent safety restraints, and even a digital leash.
Smart Collar Connection
The core of this new system relies on a digital tag embedded in a wearable device, such as a dog collar or harness. The vehicle continuously receives signals from this digital tag to determine the animal's exact location. By combining this tracking data with the owner's proximity, the vehicle can automatically anticipate when the pet is about to enter or exit the cabin and adjust its settings accordingly.
Automated Boarding and Suspension
One of the most practical features outlined in the patent is location-based suspension kneeling. If the vehicle detects an animal near the rear tailgate, it will automatically lower the rear air suspension to make it easier to jump inside. If the pet moves to a passenger door, the system adjusts that specific side of the vehicle. To further improve accessibility, the system can even automatically deploy steps, extend physical ramps, and open doors without any human input.
For now, the air suspension boarding system seems to focus on the R1 vehicles, which come with air suspension, rather than on the R2 or future R3. However, the majority of the patent applies to Rivian’s entire lineup.
Next-Gen Pet Comfort
While Rivian currently offers a basic Pet Comfort Mode, this patent details an evolution of the feature. The patent goes on to describe an upgraded system that uses internal sensors to monitor the animal's level of agitation and vital signs, including heart and respiratory rates; however, we’re not sure how likely these features are to actually reach production.
The patent describes detecting whether an animal is anxious or having trouble settling down, and automatically activating cabin noise cancellation to help block out exterior sounds.
It gets even wilder, with the patent also noting that the vehicle can use its air suspension to simulate a gentle rocking motion to help calm the animal. Rivian even mentions the integration of an automated treat dispenser that can be triggered remotely by the owner.
Improving Safety for Animals
Rivian is also rethinking how the cabin protects its non-human occupants. When the vehicle detects that a pet has entered a specific seat or climate zone, it will automatically disable safety features that are dangerous to animals. This includes deactivating airbags, silencing seatbelt chimes, disabling seatbelt pre-tensioners, and locking the window switches in that specific zone.
Digital Fencing and Security
The patent extends well beyond the interior of the truck. When out at a campsite or park, the vehicle can project a digital fence utilizing the smart collar. If your pet wanders past a threshold distance from the vehicle, the collar can provide auditory, visual, or haptic feedback to guide the animal back. The system is highly dynamic and can actually scale the intensity of the feedback based on the animal's velocity. For example, a dog standing still outside the boundary might receive a low-volume chime, while a dog sprinting away would trigger a high-volume auditory alert.
Finally, the system integrates seamlessly with Rivian's security feature, Gear Guard. If the vehicle's microphones detect aggressive or defensive animal sounds, such as barking or growling, the security system will enter a heightened awareness mode. This automatically increases the sensitivity of exterior sensors and triggers the cameras to capture more frequent footage of whatever is disturbing your pet.
