Frunk temp hotter than expected, is this normal?

[ttphhi]

We’ve had our Gen1 R1S for about a week now, still looking for excuses to drive it every chance I get ?. One thing I have noticed is that the Frunk seems overly hot. So much so that I don’t want to put any perishables in there (groceries, etc.). I haven’t stuck a temp sensor in there yet to get an accurate reading but wanted to get opinions if this is normal. I think the build date is March/April 2024 so I think it’s one of the last Gen 1’s produced (if that makes any difference).

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[sherold]

Yes, the heat exchangers are packed right in front/under the frunk and gives it an extra boost of heat in warmer weather or, in your location, likely year-round.

 

[Dark-Fx]

No, mine is only as hot as I expect it to be (which is rather hot, but not like, engine bay hot)

 

[ttphhi]

Ah, engine bay hot is a good description of what it feels like. I know it's not temp controlled and it's pretty hot out these days but it feels like there's something in the area of the truck that's adding heat. Our MY frunk doesn't get that hot so that's what concerns me. Thinking I will add it to my list of follow up items I'm putting together for a SC appointment.

 

[citizen]

Yeah it's hotter. It's sealed pretty nicely so any heat venting in through electronics below don't have any place to escape. I've stopped putting groceries etc. in there and keep it in the trunk now so that the cabin air keeps them cool.

 

[Zoidz]

Ah, engine bay hot is a good description of what it feels like. I know it's not temp controlled and it's pretty hot out these days but it feels like there's something in the area of the truck that's adding heat. Our MY frunk doesn't get that hot so that's what concerns me. Thinking I will add it to my list of follow up items I'm putting together for a SC appointment.

There is something adding heat to the frunk - the "engines" or more specifically, two motors, compressor for AC, heat exchanger, electronic modules, etc.. The frunk is nestled in between and on top of all that stuff.

 

[ttphhi]

There is something adding heat to the frunk - the "engines" or more specifically, two motors, compressor for AC, heat exchanger, electronic modules, etc.. The frunk is nestled in between and on top of all that stuff.

Seeing all that explains everything. Thanks for the cool pic, at first I thought it was the engine bay of some ICE vehicle ?

 

[HyperionMark]

Yep, I put all the temp sensitive stuff in the gear tunnel.

 

[COdogman]

I like it. I use it as a sauna.

 

[MannyMan]

I use it to keep my coffee hot during the day... I measured the frunk to be over 160F one time while I was charging at 115F weather(everyday here in the Phoenix metro area lol)

 

[KBabione]

This was a big concern of mine as well - I didn't want to put luggage with "product" (I have four daughters) in the frunk to find it all melted when we got to our destination. I keep a Tempo Disk Thermo Data Logger in the frunk net. It's small and stores a lot of history that you can then pull into your phone whenever you want to review. I was very surprised in April when we were at an EA charger in northwestern PA to see that the frunk temp got up to almost 130 degrees when it was 55 outside! I'm not surprised at all that @MannyMan has seen 160 in Phoenix!

Short hauls? No worries. Cooler weather? Worry only if using a DC charger. After Labor Day weekend, I drove 3 hours home (no charging stops) with the BestEvMod Frunk Cooler in the bottom of our frunk completely full of food and ice packs and it was fine - a little warm on the outside, but the food stayed cold (and, for some items, frozen). All of our luggage was in the back of the R1S.

 

[Kidentist]

Good place for your ski boots in winter ??? ? ?
Mine gets hot as well.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Yes, this is all because of the HVAC condenser and how the air is routed. It's routed through both wheel wells going right around the side of the frunk tub.

My understanding is that Tesla avoided this by using liquid cooling versus air. I stored my fish oil pills up there and my wife had some gummy vitamins. When we drove to Disney the gummy vitamins didn't make it. They were just one big glob when we got there. The fish oil pills however were deformed but not completely melted.

Definitely wouldn't store anything up there that is sensitive to heat. It's a good place to put pizza or other takeout food items, however as it will keep those items warm ?

 

[Zoidz]

My understanding is that Tesla avoided this by using liquid cooling versus air.

Telsa and Rivian are fundamentally the same. They both use liquid for the cooling/heating loops and have a radiator to air exchange excess heat, and if a heat pump system, to also extract heat from the air.

 

[MannyMan]

Telsa and Rivian are fundamentally the same. They both use liquid for the cooling/heating loops and have a radiator to air exchange excess heat, and if a heat pump system, to also extract heat from the air.

Looks like the difference will be in the orientation of the rad. In the Rivian, it is facing up, right in front of the frunk tub. In the Tesla it is facing down and under the tub.

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