Rivian Looks to Patent Heated Headlight Lenses for Electric Vehicles
Rivian is seeking to patent heated headlight lenses to enhance the performance of the lighting on its electric pickup trucks and SUVs in challenging weather conditions such as snow, ice, and rain.
The traditional LED headlights used in the auto industry do not emit as much waste heat as previous HID or halogen lights, which were capable of melting accumulated moisture on their own. Rivian aims to tackle this issue with a new patent submission to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Jun. 21, 2023, and subsequently published on Dec. 26, 2024.
Rivian heated headlight patent image
Rivian’s patent application involves incorporating a layer of carbon nanotube material into the outer lens of a headlight. This layer is then integrated with a silver bus-bar heating element to transfer heat to the nanotube layer, enabling it to melt any residue on the headlight lens.
Carbon nanotubes are structures made of carbon atoms arranged in tube-shaped lattices less than a nanometer in diameter. These nanotubes exhibit excellent thermal conductivity, which could explain Rivian’s choice of this material for the application.
Rivian heated headlight patent image
While heated seats and seat belts have been emphasized in electric vehicles for combating cold temperatures efficiently, Rivian’s focus on heated headlights addresses the need to clear LED lighting elements of any accumulated precipitation that could obstruct their function.
It is worth noting that not all patented concepts progress to production, and Rivian’s current priority on heated headlights remains uncertain. The company is gearing up for the production of its more affordable R2 electric SUV in 2026 and plans to establish a new plant in Georgia by 2028, supported by a $6.6 billion federal loan.