Rivian wants a patent hot lenses to help maximize the lighting performance of its electric trucks and SUVs in snow, ice, and rain.
LED lights that have become the standard in the automotive industry don't always emit as much heat as previous HID or halogen lights, which rarely do. dissolve any accumulated moisture themselves. That's what Rivian is trying to address with this patent, which was submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jun. 21, 2023, but was published by that office only on December 26, 2024.
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In that document, Rivian discusses adding a layer of carbon nanotube material to the lamp's outer lens. This would be surrounded by a silver bus heater, which would do transfer heat layer of nanotube, we heat it and let it melt away anything that accumulates on the lens of the lamp.
Carbon nanotube material is made up of tube-shaped lattices of carbon atoms less than a nanometer in diameter—hence the name. Carbon nanotubes are known to offer good thermal conductivity, which may explain Rivian's choice of material here.
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There has been much talk about the importance of heated seats, and even heated seat belts, in EVs a more efficient way combating cold temperatures with a small draw for extra power. But this is more about lighting technology than powertrain technology, especially the need to clear the LED lighting features of heavy rain that can stop them a bit.
Not all patented ideas make it to production, and it's not clear how many of Rivian's hot headlights are currently. The automaker plans to begin production of the low-cost R2 electric SUV in 2026 and open a new Georgia plant in 2028, with the company expected to be powered by a $6.6 billion federal loan.