Rivian Secures Patent for Advanced Heated Lighting System
Rivian’s latest patent is about a super clever way to keep headlights, cameras, and sensors clear in bad weather. Instead of bulky wires, it uses a transparent carbon nanotube layer that heats up when powered—no more snow or ice blocking your lights! This system can kick in automatically when it senses cold or moisture, making your drive safer and hassle-free.
One of the key reasons this is a big deal? Owners of vehicles with LED lights often complain about snow and ice buildup. Unlike older halogen lights, LEDs emit very little heat, so they don’t melt away accumulating snow. This can lead to reduced visibility and potential safety hazards, especially in snowy climates. Rivian’s new approach directly addresses this issue by adding targeted, invisible heating that keeps the lights—and potentially sensors—functional no matter the weather.
Read the full patent details here.
This should be offered as a retrofit (eventually). The build up on Gen1 R1 series is SOOOO bad in a snow storm almost like they were never test driven *during* an active snowstorm.
This is such a clever way to solve this problem.