Rivian R1T & R1S Bi-Directional V2H Charger (24kW DC) & Solar Off-Grid Integration Guide
How every Rivian R1T and R1S (Gen 1 and Gen 2) is hardware-wired for CCS/NACS bi-directional V2H discharging, why the 92.5 kWh LFP Standard Pack is ideal for daily solar cycling, and how to charge your Rivian off-grid from a rooftop solar array.
1. V2H Electrical Engineering, Transfer Switching & Solar AC/DC Coupling
Step 1 — All Gen 1 & Gen 2 Rivian R1T and R1S Trucks Are Pre-Wired for DC Bi-Directional V2H: Unlike older EVs that lacked bi-directional contactor logic, every Rivian R1T and R1S built since launch has hardware support on its high-voltage DC charge port to discharge up to 24 kW of 400V DC power into an external ISO 15118 bi-directional V2H inverter/charger.
Step 2 — Why the Gen 2 Rivian R1 Standard Pack (92.5 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate — LFP) Is a Solar Game-Changer: While Large and Max Pack Rivians use high-nickel NMC cells, the Rivian R1 Standard Pack uses ultra-durable Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells that love being charged to 100% daily from rooftop solar and offer 3,000+ cycle longevity for V2H peak shaving!
Step 3 — Using the Onboard 120V 1,500W Outlets Now vs. Full 240V DC V2H: While built-in bed/gear-tunnel 120V outlets on the R1T/R1S are capped at 1,500W (12.5A @ 120V—enough to run a kitchen refrigerator and Starlink router in Camp Courtesy Mode), full 240V whole-home HVAC and well-pump backup requires connecting a bi-directional DC charger (Rivian V2H / Wallbox Quasar 2 / Enphase Bi-Directional) to the CCS1/NACS port.
Step 4 — How to Charge Your Rivian R1T/R1S Off-Grid Without Draining Your Home Solar Battery: If you own an EG4 18kPV or Sol-Ark 15K hybrid solar system, wire your Rivian Wall Charger to the inverter’s dedicated "GEN / Smart Load" 60A output breaker! Program the Smart Load port to turn ON only when your stationary home battery is >90% SOC and solar PV input exceeds 5,000W—automatically dumping 100% free off-grid solar into your Rivian!
2. Single-Line Electrical Schematic & Architecture Comparison
Size Your EV Solar Array →RIVIAN R1T / R1S + SMART LOAD SOLAR OFF-GRID ARCHITECTURE
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[Rooftop Solar Array (12 kW DC)]
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[EG4 18kPV / Sol-Ark 15K Hybrid Inverter] ◄══► [14.3–28.6 kWh 48V LFP Home Battery]
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├──► [Smart Load Port (Turns ON @ >90% Battery SOC)] ──► [Rivian Wall Charger 48A]
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└──► [Bi-Directional V2H DC Port (ISO 15118)] ◄══════ [Rivian R1T/R1S (92–149 kWh)]V2H Bi-Directional Charging & Solar FAQ
Can I leave my Rivian R1T/R1S supplying 120V power during a power outage without the truck going to sleep after 30 minutes?
Yes! On the Rivian center touchscreen, go to the Camping App (Camp Mode) -> turn ON "Stay On" (Outlet Timer Override) and set "Camp Courtesy" to ON (which turns off exterior lights, locks doors, and silences climate/displays while keeping the 120V inverter active until the main HV battery hits your reserve limit).
Why did my Rivian Mobile Charger throw a Red Ground Fault light when I plugged it into an off-grid solar inverter or generator?
The Rivian Portable Charger checks for a low-impedance Neutral-to-Ground bond before closing its charging relay. If you plug it into a floating-neutral portable generator or an improperly bonded off-grid inverter, it will refuse to charge! Always ensure your hybrid inverter’s dynamic Neutral-Ground relay (NEC 250.30) is enabled in off-grid mode.
How many kWh of solar panels do I need on my roof to cover 12,000 miles/year of driving in a Rivian R1T or R1S?
A Rivian R1T/R1S averages ~2.1 to 2.3 miles per kWh (including charging losses, roughly 500 kWh/month or 6,000 kWh/year for 12,000 miles). In most US states (4.5–5.5 Peak Sun Hours), adding just 4.0 kW to 4.5 kW (10 to 11 panels) to your rooftop solar array generates 100% of your Rivian’s annual fuel for the next 25 years! Use our calculator at /calculators/ev-solar-sizing.