Insulate Your Glass Roof - Improve Comfort, Efficiency

[skyguyscott]

My preference for the R1T would be a large conventional moon roof. The problem with a removable roof is the pain of handling and storage the roof. Now, if Rivian was somehow able to engineer a convertible roof like what Mazda has done on the Miata, that would be really cool, but likely sacrifice the gear tunnel, which would be disappointing.

But what should be feasible is to add a way to open the rear window on the R1T. I agree that would increase its practicality immensely.

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[SeaGeo]

The obvious solution to the roof is being able to drive from the second row so that we can take advantage of it.

 

[mkg3]

My preference for the R1T would be a large conventional moon roof. The problem with a removable roof is the pain of handling and storage the roof. Now, if Rivian was somehow able to engineer a convertible roof like what Mazda has done on the Miata, that would be really cool, but likely sacrifice the gear tunnel, which would be disappointing.

But what should be feasible is to add a way to open the rear window on the R1T. I agree that would increase its practicality immensely.

From my perspective, these electronic spider/convertible roofs requiring multiple electric motors to perform simply adds more maintenance. and break points.

Good with old fashion Targa top or ragtop that require manual action though...

 

[mkg3]

Question for those of you who have chromatic glass roof:

Does the ability to opaque the roof reduce heat more than just the dark glass?

 

[Sportstick]

Question for those of you who have chromatic glass roof:

Does the ability to opaque the roof reduce heat more than just the dark glass?

Depending where you live, it does neither well. When I tested one, I could actually see the point of sunlight overhead and felt the heat on my head while the glass was maximally darkened. If you live in mild climates, it's probably OK, but a failure to me in the southwest.

 

[tmbm50]

Am I the only one that does not want to improve insulation in the winter? Maybe its just my Gen 2 R1T but the cabin "temp" ignores all digits and sets it self to "sauna" mode.

 

[Dasoss]

Nice work, but the real answer is a sunroof delete or added to the build only when desired as a standalone option. I don't even have to have a credit back for excluding it if it was standard. Just get rid of it and use a simple steel roof. We were very happy to be able to content my wife's Macan with everything she wanted and exclude the sunroof. We get to 120F in the summer in cloudless skies. A solid shade with zero light penetration is a second choice. I tried electrochromic sunroof tech in a BMW iX during the summer - fail - insufficient light/heat block. As I said a few months ago, this is a true failure of Rivian product planning not to even produce a solid shade accessory part for sale (as Volvo has just announced for the EX60), given all the other nonsense they brand and sell as merchandise. However, I do see that 3rd party vendors have stepped in.

I have a feeling that the glass roof (without electrochromic glass) may be less expensive to manufacturer than a steel roof. I could do without it. I had tinted windshield protective fil applied to the outside of mine--R1S. I had very dark tint for the rear roof. Of course, it doesn't do much for the winter.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I have a feeling that the glass roof (without electrochromic glass) may be less expensive to manufacturer than a steel roof. I could do without it. I had tinted windshield protective fil applied to the outside of mine--R1S. I had very dark tint for the rear roof. Of course, it doesn't do much for the winter.

Steel, insulation, fabric is for sure more expensive in materials than automotive glass laminate (molten quartz sand and tinted film). Multiple components, each with their own manufacturing processes. It also has more labor involved than glass roof on the assembly line. Glass roof can be installed by robots. One to apply adhesive sealant in one sweep, another to place glass. Efficient and done in minutes with repeatable consistency. And since Rivian doesn't make any of it in-house, more components also mean higher vendor profits baked cost of into each... which means more to pass on to the Rivian buyer.

Your protection film adds impact resistance. It might block UV (most do), but unless formulated to also reject IR (like Twraps’) it does hardly anything to keep cabin cooler. And it not an insulation. It has no R value. It won’t keep cabin warmer.

 

[Dasoss]

Steel, insulation, fabric is for sure more expensive in materials than automotive glass laminate (molten quartz sand and tinted film). Multiple components, each with their own manufacturing processes. It also has more labor involved than glass roof on the assembly line. Glass roof can be installed by robots. One to apply adhesive sealant in one sweep, another to place glass. Efficient and done in minutes with repeatable consistency. And since Rivian doesn't make any of it in-house, more components also mean higher vendor profits baked cost of into each... which means more to pass on to the Rivian buyer.

Your protection film adds impact resistance. It might block UV (most do), but unless formulated to also reject IR (like Twraps’) it does hardly anything to keep cabin cooler. And it not an insulation. It has no R value. It won’t keep cabin warmer.

People tend to overestimate IR rejection. Visible light from the sun causes significant heating too. When the interior surfaces heat, they radiate IR.

 

[mkhuffman]

I recorded some really good data today that demonstrates the effectiveness of this mod regarding cold weather efficiency.

I drove from my home to the DC area, just a little over two hours total. I started with the truck in a warm (60F) garage, a full charge and a warm cabin. I ran the climate at 70F for about 15 minutes before leaving. When leaving, I turned it down to 67 for about 15 minutes and then off for the rest of the drive.

First of all, I never could have made this drive before without using climate control. But I drove for almost two hours without turning it on. The temps outside varied between 28 and 31, so not really warm enough to leave climate off. Yet I did and I was comfortable.

I recorded the temperatures of the windshield, passenger seat and roof/ceiling at 1 hour into the drive, and at the end, which was two hours. Here is what I measured:

​	Windshield​	Passenger Seat​	Ceiling/Roof​
Degrees F after 1 hour​	36​	60​	54​
Degrees F after 2 hours​	34​	55​	53​

I measured the passenger seat because it was not heated, and it provides a good impression regarding comfort in the cabin. While 55 is cool, if you turn on the seat heater, it really isn't uncomfortable. (My wife might disagree with me.) I used the driver seat heater and steering wheel heater, and was never cold.

Logically, without insulation the ceiling temperature would have been similar to the windshield temperature, which would have significantly impacted comfort in the cabin. With this mod, the ceiling temperature was never even close to getting that low. I could feel the cold draft coming off the windshield, but not the ceiling.

I think it is pretty obvious this mod improves cold weather comfort and efficiency. Since the HVAC system in the Gen2 is pretty efficient, the gain isn't huge. But it isn't insignificant either. It is definitely worth the cost and effort, as long as you don't care about the glass roof.

 

[skyguyscott]

I recorded some really good data today that demonstrates the effectiveness of this mod regarding cold weather efficiency.

A significant variable is the amount of sunlight beating down on the greenhouse cockpit. Even in winter chill, a bright sun will warm the cabin to a surprising degree. Of course, at night, there is no IR coming from our nearest star.

In the summer heat, the amount of IR coming into the greenhouse is even greater, and even with the chromatic roof, this heating is unbearable without sun shades installed.

 

[EVnewb]

Don’t forget this option!

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/painting-the-panoramic-glass-for-heat-reduction.12211/

 

[Voronbrg]

I live in the PNW so this seems like madness to me, as the more glass you can get on a roadtrip the better.

But for those that this is the right route for, looks like a good project and well organized Nice work.

The longer I drive my early 22 r1t the more I realize Rivian DID NOT test/validate their vehicles in hot humid places. Soo many issues here related to the HVAC unit.

 

[mkhuffman]

A significant variable is the amount of sunlight beating down on the greenhouse cockpit. Even in winter chill, a bright sun will warm the cabin to a surprising degree. Of course, at night, there is no IR coming from our nearest star.

In the summer heat, the amount of IR coming into the greenhouse is even greater, and even with the chromatic roof, this heating is unbearable without sun shades installed.

I should have mentioned that it was mostly cloudy during the test above, but the sun did come out a few times. You are right about the benefit of the sun in the winter. It is very significant.

 

[Dohmar]

I live in a place where it is super hot and sunny, and when it gets hot, it gets 45'c/113f+
I'm hoping by the time R2 gets to Australia, a simple, plain, metal insulated roof would be an option

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