Rivian is trying to patent heated headlight lenses to assist improve the efficiency of the lighting on its electrical pickup vans and SUVs in snow, ice, and rain.
The LED headlights which have develop into the usual within the auto trade do not give off a lot waste warmth on a regular basis as earlier HID or halogen lights, which may usually soften any accrued moisture by themselves. That is what Rivian is making an attempt to handle with this patent, which was submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) Jun. 21, 2023, however solely printed by that workplace Dec. 26, 2024.
Rivian heated headlight patent picture
In that doc, Rivian discusses including a layer of carbon nanotube materials to the outer lens of a headlight. This may be surrounded by a silver bus-bar heating factor, which might transmit warmth to the nanotube layer, warming it and in flip permitting it to soften something accumulating on the headlight lens.
Carbon nanotube materials is comprised of tube-shaped lattices of carbon atoms lower than a nanometer in diameter—therefore the identify. Carbon nanotubes are recognized to gave good thermal conductivity, which could clarify Rivian’s alternative of the fabric right here.
Rivian heated headlight patent picture
There’s been a lot speak of the significance of heated seats, and even heated seat belts, in EVs as a extra environment friendly approach to combat chilly temperatures with minimal extra power draw. However that is extra about lighting expertise than powertrain expertise, particularly the necessity to clear LED lighting components of accrued precipitation that would partially block them.
Not all patented concepts attain manufacturing, and it is unclear how a lot of a precedence heated headlights are for Rivian proper now. The automaker is making ready to start out manufacturing of its more-affordable R2 electrical SUV in 2026 and open a brand new Georgia plant by 2028, with the latter anticipated to obtain a lift from a $6.6 billion federal mortgage.