Truck of the Year: Rivian R1T Quad Motor (TopGear.com US Car Awards 2026)

[Katsudon]

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/usa/here-are-your-winners-topgearcom-us-car-awards-2026

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[Greg Chick]

I give my R1T Quad, large Truck of the yr. too, and its got 55,000 miles on it. But, it serves as a vehicle that will clear snow berms where I live, and charge (fill up) for free every night in my garage.
So, not everyone lives in the snow needing to clear 24" tall snow berms, and not everyone has solar power. Nothing is for everyone, nothing is perfect, relationships even need attention, chose wisely and be happy and enjoy.

 

[bfilippo]

Yep, wouldn’t drive anything else.

 

[NeverFollow]

charge (fill up) for free every night in my garage.

I am curious to know the size of your batteries for charging at night and for home consumption?

Note: I liked your website and your book.

Did you described your solar system on some web site? Are you also off-grid?

 

[Greg Chick]

I am curious to know the size of your batteries for charging at night and for home consumption?

Note: I liked your website and your book.

Did you described your solar system on some web site? Are you also off-grid?

I am not off grid, I have an SCE meter that has NEMA 2 status. This allows me to charge at night when the sun is down and the SCE power charges my Rivian. But during the daytime my solar panels recover power and push the electric meter back into SCE power lines I get the reversal of power used at night. My Rivian has my only battery, my 14 solar Panels are 400 Watts each. My use at home is very little, I have hybrid water heating and I have all LED lighting. I heat my house with Propane, but that heater is a frugal Condensing design, and I wear a sweater indoors in the winter.
I would like feedback on the book, I think the title sucks, I did not pick the title. Got a better one?

 

[NeverFollow]

I am not off grid, I have an SCE meter that has NEMA 2 status. This allows me to charge at night when the sun is down and the SCE power charges my Rivian. But during the daytime my solar panels recover power and push the electric meter back into SCE power lines I get the reversal of power used at night. My Rivian has my only battery, my 14 solar Panels are 400 Watts each. My use at home is very little, I have hybrid water heating and I have all LED lighting. I heat my house with Propane, but that heater is a frugal Condensing design, and I wear a sweater indoors in the winter.
I would like feedback on the book, I think the title sucks, I did not pick the title. Got a better one?

Thank you for your quick reply. In your book the Mac and Mike story is very clever!
You should mention that in some US states, collecting rainwater needs a permit.

I'm in Northern California and PG&E only gives pennies for solar energy during the day, and
in the evening you will pay full rate for peak hours, so it's not worthwhile to send back energy.

So my solar system runs like a backup generator and I made an automatic transfer switch
to be off grid until the batteries are depleted or there is a black out.
I never send power back to the Grid.

I have nine east and nine west 400 W solar panels and I store my solar energy
in a 15 kWh DIY battery for my home daily usage and save any surplus
to heat water using a heat pump or direct EV charging.

When needed, to charge my EV at nigh I have a PG&E off peak rate. Adding new batteries
for charging my EV would not be worthwhile as it would take so many years to be
profitable, and also there are numerous free L2 and DCFC public chargers in my area.

 

[Greg Chick]

Cool, the difference is my NEMA (Net Energy Management Agreement), I think is the full name. Ca. state got a bill passed years ago requiring the utility to accept watt in and watt out equally, with a reconcillation at years end. Here we only get a cash return of abouit 2 cents per KWH. So only the daily "breathing" of the watts is a gain for me. The NEMA 2 that I have is no longer given as of over 2 years ago.
Yea you are doing a smart balance of equipment and power use! My Hotwater Domestic Heat Pump is a hybrid unitarian tank system, but I set it a couple degrees hotter than my Condensing tankless that is gas fueled and after the tank in the series of heating equipment. So, solar power first, and if the temp falls below 110 degrees, the Gas tops off the temp. as water passes thru the tankless on way to the faucets. Very little gas is used, and if power is out, I still have hot water! All that is needed is a small wattage to power the controlls of the tankless gas unit. A tiny battery does this.
I also have a dual fuel generator that has a cable to the nain panel via a code compliant circut.
My home as well has a 550 gal. water tank able to use gravity for water flow, as it is raised above the grade.
No free charging in my area, and what DCFC exists is .61 cents plus per KwH. However, the generator at my home is 8K and will do Level 2 charging via my Rivian wall charger. Maybe 18 MPH.

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