REALLY hot HV battery on road trip

[SoCal Rob]

Hey all,
Just wrapped up an amazing ~4k roadtrip (write up to come) on the way back home through Colorado, highway speeds, mid 90s’ air temp, AC set around 73F. The battery could NOT cool down as we headed to a level 3 charger. Needless to say the “fast” charge was anything but. After not getting above a 50kw rate I unplugged and left it sitting while preconditioning the battery. After about 30 minutes it dropped to about 120F and was able to charge. Is this just driving a Rivian on a hot day thing? Gen 2 R1T.
Thanks!

Did you manually precondition or was the charger set as a stop in the nav? If so, preconditioning may have been warming your battery rather than cooling it. You may want to read this post from this thread: Be careful using “Prepare for fast charging”

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[SarahsDad]

Yep this is a thing. Good review here by this youtuber:



I posted about the same problem - https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/battery-overheating.28898/post-818381.

Haven't had any issues since - I think mine was an extreme case, I'd already driven 8 hours straight, 100º ambient temperature, had to have A/C blasting while charging because of my yellow lab in the back seat. Unfortunately I think this is performing as (poorly) designed, not a serviceable issue.

 

[CJRocker]

We experienced the same thing… when we brought our R1S in for service, they determined that one of the coolant valves was not operating properly. Once repaired, we haven’t had the same problem since.

 

[mudito]

Just my 2 cents here.

While it's possible that it might be a thing to have your battery at those temps, with an ambient of 88F (as per your picture) that temp it's a bit high. I would schedule a service appointment and attach that same picture, maybe there's something they can do about your coolant system and might help you in the future.

 

[bigsky]

Just completed a 1k mile trip on my 2024 R1SQ Gen 1. Battery pack was at 94 F; started preconditioning automatically one hour before arrival to fast charger. Temp dropped to 76 F when I got there. 80 degrees outside, driving on Conserve at 65 mph max.
The second time, AP mode, 90 deg, driving 65 max, pack temp got to 106 F. Had to start manual preconditioning; not enough time. Got to charger with pack temp down to.86 F. Vehicle started charging at 218 still.

 

[Gasmiser12]

Just towed this 6,000 lb load through Sacramento Tuesday. Outside temps 102.

Battery pack temps 92-105 range

 

[CO.R1T]

Did you manually precondition or was the charger set as a stop in the nav? If so, preconditioning may have been warming your battery rather than cooling it. You may want to read this post from this thread: Be careful using “Prepare for fast charging”

Good point. I was navigating to a fast charger, so it was just doing its thing. It wasn’t until I say the overheated battery and subsequent incredibly slow charging that I manually preconditioned. Not sure that it really made THAT big of a difference over just letting it sit and cool…

 

[CO.R1T]

Yep this is a thing. Good review here by this youtuber:



I posted about the same problem - https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/battery-overheating.28898/post-818381.

Haven't had any issues since - I think mine was an extreme case, I'd already driven 8 hours straight, 100º ambient temperature, had to have A/C blasting while charging because of my yellow lab in the back seat. Unfortunately I think this is performing as (poorly) designed, not a serviceable issue.

Thanks for the links! I‘m trying to get as many data points and perspective as possible, trying to rule out if I’m just crazy and over reacting. Sounds like I’m definitly not alone!

 

[CO.R1T]

Just towed this 6,000 lb load through Sacramento Tuesday. Outside temps 102.

Battery pack temps 92-105 range

Dang! Beautiful ride! Sounds like if there was going to be battery heating difficulty you would have had it with those conditions and didn’t. You Gen 1? Can’t tell if those are 21s’ or not. Also, random question, what hitch are you using? Thanks!

 

[CO.R1T]

Just completed a 1k mile trip on my 2024 R1SQ Gen 1. Battery pack was at 94 F; started preconditioning automatically one hour before arrival to fast charger. Temp dropped to 76 F when I got there. 80 degrees outside, driving on Conserve at 65 mph max.
The second time, AP mode, 90 deg, driving 65 max, pack temp got to 106 F. Had to start manual preconditioning; not enough time. Got to charger with pack temp down to.86 F. Vehicle started charging at 218 still.

I’m beginning to realize that speed at air temp have the biggest impact on battery temp, which is difficulty because my right foot is composed almost entirely of lead.

 

[Gasmiser12]

Dang! Beautiful ride! Sounds like if there was going to be battery heating difficulty you would have had it with those conditions and didn’t. You Gen 1? Can’t tell if those are 21s’ or not. Also, random question, what hitch are you using? Thanks!

21"
Pirelli Scorpions,
Started at 48 psi cold went up to 53 hot tires.

Factory Rivian hitch.
UHaul
Trailer weight 2500 lbs empty, plus about 4000 1999 Carrara additional weight.

Truck pulled this load no problem 70-75mph on freeway. Load did not faze the quad '22 R1T at all. Plenty of power on the steepest hills. Regen off the truck-no trailer brake did stop the truck easily.

 

[bigsky]

I’m beginning to realize that speed at air temp have the biggest impact on battery temp, which is difficulty because my right foot is composed almost entirely of lead.

I tend to think such is the case. For me, at least I never linger in the fast lane going 65; semi's probably none too happy.

 

[JacobAZ]

Sounds like an issue to be checked out in OP's truck. No issue with cooling my Gen 2 R1T. This summer drove I8 through AZ and CA. temps around 115. Battery stayed around 102 -105. Stopped to fast charge in Yuma ... went normal ... battery was in same temp range before and after charging.

 

[CO.R1T]

We experienced the same thing… when we brought our R1S in for service, they determined that one of the coolant valves was not operating properly. Once repaired, we haven’t had the same problem since.

I have a mobile service visit to repair the battery bracket. I will as them about the coolant valves while they are here. Thank you!

 

[2kwik4u]

Man I see 110 degrees regularly just from level 2 charging on a 90 degree sunny day here in PA

I just road tripped yesterday. Saw 115deg between Louisville and Cincinnati. Once "pre conditioning" started, it pulled the battery back down to 86deg in about an hours time. Right on time to plug in at the Ft Mitchell supercharger. Dash said it was 97deg outside. Humidity was over 80% I'm betting. It was awful. Battery was back up to 110deg after 20min, and we were off to Columbus.

I'm not surprised by 135deg overall, however it sure seems like something isn't right if the truck can't pull it back down. Even at 75mph with A/C set at 68, the preconditioning seems to drop the temp back into the mid 80's. Without preconditioning the battery seems to run about 10deg above ambient.

Wonder if it's a pack configuration issue. I'm in a Gen 1 with the Large (131kWh) battery.

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