Solar Panel Roof

[InnerMogul]

A full glass window is great, but when the sun is over head, you will want a different option to close/tint the glass quickly (Lexus GX 550 "Dynamic Sky"). If a sliding shade or electronic tint feature is not an option, perhaps sealing the roof completely can be an option and offering an active solar panel for the exterior roof top to add charging capabilities.

 

[ThomaScout]

I agree I was excited when Tesla first talked about this with their truck. I hope scout goes that route. If you plan to overland or camp for a weekend it would be nice to add some juice back while camping.

 

[J Alynn]

I agree I was excited when Tesla first talked about this with their truck. I hope scout goes that route. If you plan to overland or camp for a weekend it would be nice to add some juice back while camping.

Typically cost of feature does not yield enough opportunity for electric gain. And garage parking (home or city) negates things as well

 

[Mousehunter]

I agree, generally not worth the effort. But it is a big roof, and you probably could get 1500 watts of panels on it fairly easily. Given that you get a limited number of peak hours a day - it really is not that many miles (say you get 3 miles per kwh, then that is 21ish miles a day. But it would go a long way to stretching AC/heating at night while camping.

Honestly, 3 days of camping, might cost 100 miles of range - almost easier to look for a camping site with an electrical outlet.

 

[J Alynn]

I agree, generally not worth the effort. But it is a big roof, and you probably could get 1500 watts of panels on it fairly easily. Given that you get a limited number of peak hours a day - it really is not that many miles (say you get 3 miles per kwh, then that is 21ish miles a day. But it would go a long way to stretching AC/heating at night while camping.

Honestly, 3 days of camping, might cost 100 miles of range - almost easier to look for a camping site with an electrical outlet.

If you follow @R1TVT or @RebelliousPeasant on the forum they have a huge wealth of knowledge on EV/Rivian and he’s posted a lot of info related to this

 

[Jamie@ScoutMotors]

I will say from a general standpoint in the automotive world, manufacturers have wrestled with this. Because people take their vehicles into automatic car washes, extreme heat and cold, and numerous other use cases, keeping the solar panels in decent shape is tough. They often don't compute when you look at cost/benefit.

 

[ID_ENG]

Maybe not built into the vehicle but an add on. Solar panel tonneau cover. A field replacable part if you will.

 

[bkmcj]

Solar roof or not I would prefer to have a shade for the roof (it gets hot here in Arizona) or possibly option to NOT have glass roof or tonneau roof at all. Also sunshades for rear window doors would be good.

 

[J Alynn]

Solar roof or not I would prefer to have a shade for the roof (it gets hot here in Arizona) or possibly option to NOT have glass roof or tonneau roof at all. Also sunshades for rear window doors would be good.

There will be a solid roof base option

 

[OleScout]

There will be a solid roof base option

And it looks good!

 

[Albal]

I will say from a general standpoint in the automotive world, manufacturers have wrestled with this. Because people take their vehicles into automatic car washes, extreme heat and cold, and numerous other use cases, keeping the solar panels in decent shape is tough. They often don't compute when you look at cost/benefit.

It's good to hear about the feasibility, regardless of whether it's desired or not.

There was a lengthy discussion about this some time back. As someone who parks outside regularly, I was of the opinion that it'd be a cool option to have for a number of reasons. Someone else mentioned that just being able to have a solar charge controller tied in (so user-provided solar panels could charge the truck) could be a very neat option. Imagine camping in the country with fold-out solar panels keeping you truck charged up and powering lights/heat/ac/grills/etc/etc. Spending nights in the back of your truck, you could camp in comfort and style for weeks on end. If there was a way of doing this, I'd imagine a bunch of youtubers would be on it in a flash.

 

[Mousehunter]

One other thing to think about is panel efficiency. Panels tend to be more efficient when cooler. Generally cooler requires airflow around the panel - which includes both sides of it. Not saying that panels have never been directly placed on a roof without an air gap for airflow - but it is not all that common.

Not sure what the efficiency difference would be between placing panels direction on the roof vs putting them on a rack over the roof - abet the rack over the roof would cause wind drag and cost more range.

 

[bkmcj]

There will be a solid roof base option

Thanks so much for the quick answer. Do you know if this means that the solid roof is only available in lower trims/base model or as an option in upper trims also?

 

[J Alynn]

Thanks so much for the quick answer. Do you know if this means that the solid roof is only available in lower trims/base model or as an option in upper trims also?

Wasn’t clarified. Assuming typical structure-solid roof base with other two as upgrades

 

[MountainDad]

I agree, generally not worth the effort. But it is a big roof, and you probably could get 1500 watts of panels on it fairly easily. Given that you get a limited number of peak hours a day - it really is not that many miles (say you get 3 miles per kwh, then that is 21ish miles a day. But it would go a long way to stretching AC/heating at night while camping.

Honestly, 3 days of camping, might cost 100 miles of range - almost easier to look for a camping site with an electrical outlet.

Fisker tried the concept of solar panels on the roof. Granted, their roof was about 1/4 the size of a Traveler, but it was basically a sales gimmick that provided maybe a handful of miles in a day of bright Florida sunlight.

 

[InnerMogul]

Love the feedback, I would hate for the team to add this and it's just a gimmick (we've all seen what happened to Fisker now). I think a panoramic sunroof would be the better option then. Excited to see where these suggestions actually lead.

 

[J Alynn]

Love the feedback, I would hate for the team to add this and it's just a gimmick (we've all seen what happened to Fisker now). I think a panoramic sunroof would be the better option then. Excited to see where these suggestions actually lead.

I can say these things having been on here over 23 months
-the SM team listens and many read this comnents
-if Jamie from Scout Motors takes time to comment, know that he appreciated your thought either way and his answers are generally “final” if you get what I mean
-at the reveal on Thursday, those of us invited all commented on how many, off the beaten path ideas showed up on the concepts that we suggested over past 23 months. Coincidence, great minds or they liked our ideas, we don’t know but we all felt validated and felt that they really did listen

 

[EtHansen]

Solar Panel roof would be awesome and make it a great feature to possibly include a few extra miles or charge the battery for accessories. The issue is that'd make it super complicated and expensive to add. I've sold solar panels and if they aren't perfect, they don't operate to their maximum. Also the integration with the whole system could make it a pain for repairs.

 

[speedrye]

Perhaps an optional fold-out solar camp awning, perfect for providing shade while tailgating or camping!

 

[Logan]

I can say these things having been on here over 23 months
-the SM team listens and many read this comnents
-if Jamie from Scout Motors takes time to comment, know that he appreciated your thought either way and his answers are generally “final” if you get what I mean
-at the reveal on Thursday, those of us invited all commented on how many, off the beaten path ideas showed up on the concepts that we suggested over past 23 months. Coincidence, great minds or they liked our ideas, we don’t know but we all felt validated and felt that they really did listen

This is the reason I joined the forum! It’s rare to have even “potential” impact on a future vehicles features/capabilities like this. So I jumped on it when I saw the chance.

As a “Park inside the garage” sort of person, I understand why solar panels might not make sense.

But also, when I am out in the boonies camping the vehicle is parked for a long time. And “any” charge gained is great. Or even if it just lets the vehicle retain its charge while being used to charge lights/inflate things/whatever. It would still be a benefit.

I think “eventually” solar panels may get to a place where the marginal cost of adding them is low enough that their inclusion is pretty normal to see on EV’s. But now it really will depend on if their Durable enough, and how much it adds to the price.

For the Terra it makes a whole lot of sense to make it as a solar cover for the bed. As that is a huge replaceable surface, and adds other functionality. For the Traveler it’s a bit less clear.