I apologize for this article that may tug at your heartstrings. But electric vehicle owners need to be aware of this accident that nearly killed two dogs to prevent placing them in danger. A Rivian R1S failed in the Arizona heat, putting an owner and his pets at risk. 

2 dogs nearly died when a Rivian R1S failed in Arizona 

Brain Ogawa was shaken up after his first drive in his Rivian R1S ended in disaster, risking the lives of his two dogs in the Arizona heat. It was about 114 degrees out when the electric SUV started to struggle. 

He used a fast charger and went about his day of travel. Then 45 minutes later, the R1S failed and entered turtle mode on the highway. It was crawling along the road at about five miles per hour. 

Ogawa pulled over in the shade and performed a hard reset as the heat inside the cabin quickly increased. According to Torque News, resetting the SUV got it working properly again. 

However, now the owner is worried about making it back to Los Angeles and traveling with his dogs in the summer heat. 

Electric vehicles typically prioritize cooling the battery over cabin comfort and using a DC fast charger quickly heats things up. That combined with the desert heat may have created a recipe for disaster. 

Heat can impact software functionality and speed up battery degradation. Some critics believe that EV chargers need to have climate-controlled software to reduce thermal strain. 

If you own an EV like the Rivian R1S consider charging it in the shade or during lower temperatures. Be aware of how to reset the system and be prepared for potential emergencies.