Solar Power Hits the Truck Bed with Worksport’s SOLIS Cover for the Rivian R1T

Rivian R1T owners are in luck because they can now capture solar electricity directly on their trucks. Worksport, based in Upstate New York, just released the SOLIS solar tonneau cover, which is designed specifically for the R1T’s bed.

This sturdy folding tonneau replaces the standard model and features solar panels all over the surface. It’s made of aircraft grade aluminum, which is both sturdy and lightweight, ensuring the perfect balance of weight. To achieve a perfect fit, the engineers went above and beyond to ensure compatibility with both the Rivian’s retractable cover and no cover at all.

The panels can produce a respectable 250 watts in full sunlight, which is slightly less than what larger trucks receive because to the R1T’s smaller bed area. Even yet, in favorable weather, the system will absorb as much energy as possible, whether the vehicle is parked or driving down the road.

The power is directed to an optional battery pack known as the COR system. This device has 1 kWh of energy and uses long-life lithium iron phosphate cells, which are safe and reliable. It takes roughly 4 hours to fully charge under direct sunlight. Then you can use it to power your tools, phone chargers, lights, or even small appliances, and add-on modules allow you to store even more energy.

However, for the time being, the setup does not allow you to flow power directly into the R1T’s main battery. Worksport is considering implementing this in future editions, possibly in collaboration with Rivian. Real-world benefits vary depending on your location and the weather, but on a nice day with enough of sunshine, you might be able to charge your lights or fridge for the night, or even get some extra time on the road without having to plug in. Over the course of a few days, that can quickly mount up.

The SOLIS tonneau starts at a reasonable $1,999, and you can add the COR battery and inverter for an additional $949. Pre-orders have now commenced, with first shipments expected in mid-January. Worksport currently offers similar devices for Ford, Chevrolet, Ram, and other models, but adding this to the R1T is a significant victory for owners who enjoy venturing off the usual path. It enables them to convert downtime under the sun into useful electricity, albeit in small increments.
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