Generating cabin heat while parked

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There were reports that Rivian likes to keep their batteries as close to 70 degrees as possible. And we do know that the thermals are actively managed by the vehicle while DCFC and level 2 charging.

If this increased cabin temp were normal, then why aren't more people seeing this? Do his experiences match your own? OP didn't put specifics, but his charging session was likely over for hours before he noticed the high cabin temp. My own observations do not support this notion of normalcy. I plug in, and remain plugged in all night, every day. I have no TOU discounts so I have no charging schedule set. I have gotten in the truck at varying times in the charge cycle; at the beginning of the charge, interrupted charges to run errands, and I've gotten in right after the charge cycle ended. My temperate climate and insulated garage mean that the ambient is almost always in the mid 60's, and my cabin is ALWAYS in the low to mid 70's. If your assumptions were accurate, that would mean my cabin should be closer to 105 degrees depending on charging status.

It's highly dependent on charging duration and amount. Daily usage for a lot of people won't mean much waste heat but if you're filling from 10-85% it sure will.

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[godfodder0901]

How big is your garage, and how insulated?

My cabin is always reading 80-90 degrees after charging for awhile and the garage is warm as well.

If you have a larger/well ventilated garage you may not notice it.

~900 sq. ft. It is insulated, but I don't know the R value of the insulation used. I even have two 50 gal propane hot water heaters generating extra heat in the garage, and don't notice a significant impact on ambient while charging (48 amps on 60 amp circuit using the Rivian wall charger).

 

[Craigins]

I've been charging for about 14 hours now, using the 120v adapter.

Current temperature shown above. Overnight it was upper 60s.

Maybe it has to do with L1 vs L2 charging?

 

[txtravwill]

Odd. I've kinda noticed this the last few days. Our garage is about 90 degrees when I pull in, temps state that, have an AC that keeps it from getting any higher. But then I check the truck at night at the cabin is at maybe 100 or so. I was thinking while it is charging, it is warming up the cabin also some?

 

[Mathme]

The other options it to use the "vent windows" option in the app. this will help dissipate the heat out of the cabin into the larger garage.

Good thing to have it looked at regardless.

 

[Craigins]

My guess then is going to be on running the ACDV inverter for long periods of time. I believe someone said the 400v to 12v converter ran at like 130 degrees.

And my garage is probably around 400-500sqft with lower ceiling. Not a lot of room with the rivian inside. (I could just barely fit my ram rebel and prius c side by side, and the rebel had about a foot and a half room to spare when pulling in.)

 

[Zoidz]

If this increased cabin temp were normal, then why aren't more people seeing this? Do his experiences match your own?

How do we know others are not seeing it and consider it normal?

My Rivian lives outside right now until I free up some garage space, so my charging environment is not predictable. Sometimes it is 120 inside on hot days. Sometimes it is 68 inside on cool, cloudy, windy days.

OP didn't put specifics, but his charging session was likely over for hours before he noticed the high cabin temp. My own observations do not support this notion of normalcy. I plug in, and remain plugged in all night, every day. I have no TOU discounts so I have no charging schedule set. I have gotten in the truck at varying times in the charge cycle; at the beginning of the charge, interrupted charges to run errands, and I've gotten in right after the charge cycle ended. My temperate climate and insulated garage mean that the ambient is almost always in the mid 60's, and my cabin is ALWAYS in the low to mid 70's.

Neither you nor OP provided details on maximum charge rate setting, starting SOC, ending SOC, etc. You are assuming that your equipment, settings, environment and charge patterns are similar or identical to OP. These are many and impactful variables on heating.

If your assumptions were accurate, that would mean my cabin should be closer to 105 degrees depending on charging status.

Where did you come up with this calculation of temperature based on my assumptions? I made no such statement, comment or provided a formula that would lead to this 105 degree conclusion. Any assumption of 105 degrees is purely yours, not mine.

Calm down. I clearly said in my posts that only Rivian knows the answer and a service ticket is the proper solution.

 

[Zoidz]

I've been charging for about 14 hours now, using the 120v adapter.

Current temperature shown above. Overnight it was upper 60s.

Maybe it has to do with L1 vs L2 charging?

It's been scientifically documented by IEEE that L1 charging is less efficient than L2 by 5% to 14%, so L1 will generate more heat due to efficiency loss. This is why blanket statements of "That doesn't happen to me" are irrelevant without ALL of the details.

"We installed logging devices in 2 Nissan Leafs and 2 Chevrolet Volts in Vermont to track charging efficiency at each Level 1 and Level 2 charging event. Data was collected between June and November 2013 to provide a range of climatic conditions. Usable data was obtained from 115 charges and mean charging efficiency was found to be 85.7%. On average, Level 2 charging was 5.6% more efficient than Level 1 (89.4% vs. 83.8%). In those charges in which the battery took up less than 4 kWh, this difference in efficiency was even greater: 87.2% for Level 2 vs. 74.2% for Level 1. Efficiency gains of Level 2 charging also increased under low (<; 50°F) and high (> 70°F) temperatures."

 

[Craigins]

It's been scientifically documented by IEEE that L1 charging is less efficient than L2 by 5% to 14%, so L1 will generate more heat due to efficiency loss. This is why blanket statements of "That doesn't happen to me" are irrelevant without ALL of the details.

"We installed logging devices in 2 Nissan Leafs and 2 Chevrolet Volts in Vermont to track charging efficiency at each Level 1 and Level 2 charging event. Data was collected between June and November 2013 to provide a range of climatic conditions. Usable data was obtained from 115 charges and mean charging efficiency was found to be 85.7%. On average, Level 2 charging was 5.6% more efficient than Level 1 (89.4% vs. 83.8%). In those charges in which the battery took up less than 4 kWh, this difference in efficiency was even greater: 87.2% for Level 2 vs. 74.2% for Level 1. Efficiency gains of Level 2 charging also increased under low (<; 50°F) and high (> 70°F) temperatures."

Sadly I can't do a direct comparison. My L2 charger is mounted outside in northern Wisconsin. So sounds like this is an L2 vs L1 issue.

For me it is a benefit for 50% of the year . Keeps the garage and cabin warm during late fall/winter/early spring.

 

[godfodder0901]

How do we know others are not seeing it and consider it normal?

Because it isn't widely reported.

Neither you nor OP provided details on maximum charge rate setting, starting SOC, ending SOC, etc. You are assuming that your equipment, settings, environment and charge patterns are similar or identical to OP. These are many and impactful variables on heating.

You are correct. There are many variables we don't know, which is why I disagreed with your assertion that this is 'normal'.

Zoidz said:

In the end, only Rivian can tell us if this is "normal" but I suspect it is.

Where did you come up with this calculation of temperature based on my assumptions? I made no such statement, comment or provided a formula that would lead to this 105 degree conclusion. Any assumption of 105 degrees is purely yours, not mine.

This comes from you declaring the OPs situation normal and the fact that his cabin was ~50 warmer than ambient. I simply added that value to my own observed temperature for illustrate my point.

Calm down. I clearly said in my posts that only Rivian knows the answer and a service ticket is the proper solution.

I know it's hard to read other people we don't know through text posted to a forum. Please rest assured that I am in no way worked up. If I have done anything to make you think I am being combative or argumentative, then I sincerely apologize for that as it was not my intention. I'm simply trying to have a discussion and understand your point of view. No ill will intended.

 

[Zoidz]

This comes from you declaring the OPs situation normal and the fact that his cabin was ~50 warmer than ambient. I simply added that value to my own observed temperature for illustrate my point.

OK, but it wasn't a 50 degree delta. He said 40 degrees outside at night, but the vehicle was parked inside the garage (no temperature specified), and he measured 90 degrees in the cabin. If the garage stayed at 70 degrees overnight (mine would in those conditions) it was only a 20 degree delta.

I know it's hard to read other people we don't know through text posted to a forum. Please rest assured that I am in no way worked up. If I have done anything to make you think I am being combative or argumentative, then I sincerely apologize for that as it was not my intention. I'm simply trying to have a discussion and understand your point of view. No ill will intended.

All good!

 

[Marchin_MTB]

So I haven’t noticed this effect in the R1T but that doesn’t mean that it’s not happening.

However, I have noticed something similar with the i3. The cabin is always a little toasty when L2 charging. Maybe 10-15F above ambient in spite of being in the shade/garage. Nothing that would ever alarm me and there is a good physical explanation for it.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

For me it is a benefit for 50% of the year . Keeps the garage and cabin warm during late fall/winter/early spring.

Oh good. The stray cats that live in my garage ought to like this "feature", too. Unless it catches fire, of course. ??

 

[Cycliste]

My cabin temperature dropped after charging completed (using the portable charger at 110 volts) from 28 C to 27 C so far. I’ll try to remember to put in a temperature logger after tomorrow's driving.

 

[blturner]

I see this too. Currently mine has been charging for about 18 hours in the garage with the windows DOWN. It is 86° F. But I have the outlets/inverter on and a mini fridge in the back seat. So YMMV.

The inverter is a significant source of heat when you have the outlets on. Stick your hand under the passengers seat to see if this is what is causing yours to heat up. If you only recently started using the outlets that could be the issue.

Also one of the recent software updates stopped cooling the unattended cabin to prevent battery drain. I think that was only when it got really hot. Like damage the leather kind of hot. Not sure how to find the web link to the what's new page I read on the center display. But the timing matches what your talking about.

I almost always run the inverter and usually have that fridge in there. I try to always roll down the windows in the garage to keep it from getting uncomfortable. It also wastes a lot of electricity to have a fridge try to cool itself in a space heated up by the waste heat of it cooling itself.

On one occasion I had the fridge in the bed and noticed that the cabin was still quite warm in the garage, but I did not take time to investigate it. Later I read about the inverter making heat under the seat and figured that was it.

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