Rivian's EDV 700 van gets AWD and a 129 kWh battery

Rivian's electric delivery van, best known from Amazon's fleet, has received its first big hardware upgrade since production began in 2021. In its third-quarter shareholder presentation, Rivian said it began delivering new variants in early October: a version with a larger battery that offers a 30% increase in range and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration. Electrek dug into the certification paperwork for the details.

Built for rural routes

Rivian says the new variants are "specifically designed to expand route coverage into more rural networks." Amazon's last-mile routes in cities are short and dense, which suits a modest battery. Rural routes mean longer distances between stops and more gravel, mud and snow, where a heavily loaded front-wheel-drive van can struggle.

Battery and range

EPA certification documents for the 2027 EDV 700, issued on September 17, list a usable capacity of 129 kWh, using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells like the existing pack. Reports differ on the old pack's size: Electrek cites Rivian's marketed 100 kWh, while other coverage of the EPA filing gives 90 kWh. Either way, the extra energy explains the range claim. If you're wondering why fleets pick LFP, see our explainer on LFP vs NMC batteries.

The EPA filing shows unadjusted lab range, which always runs higher than real-world figures:

• Current EDV 700 (FWD): 261.7 miles
• New EDV 700 FWD with the large pack: 355.5 miles
• New EDV 700 AWD with the large pack: 322.25 miles

Rivian rates the current EDV 700 at up to 160 miles. Applying the 30% claim, Electrek estimates about 208 miles for the new front-drive van and roughly 195–200 miles for the AWD version. Those are estimates, not official Rivian ratings.

Only the bigger van

The upgrade is limited to the EDV 700, which has 652 cubic feet of cargo space. The smaller EDV 500 keeps its existing battery and front-wheel drive. Rivian has not published prices for the new variants, nor said how many it has delivered.

The news follows Rivian's report on its growing fast-charging network, which added 39% more ports in a year. Depot charging still matters most for vans like these; our guide on how long it takes to charge an EV explains how pack size affects charging time.