Rivian has filed a patent for carbon nanotube-based heated LED lenses
Rivian electric car owners often complain about ice build-up on LED headlights. This is a common problem with this type of headlights, found in other brands as well. But it seems that the American manufacturer of electric pickup trucks and SUVs has come up with an original solution - heated lenses.
Here's What We Know
The application was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in June 2023 and made public in December 2024. The document was brought to our attention by our colleagues at Motor Authority. It states that Rivian is considering adding a heating element that transfers heat throughout the lens thanks to integrated carbon nanotubes.
Schematic image of a Rivian headlight with a heated LED lens. Source: Motor Authority
Rivian could have solved the problem the old-fashioned way by installing heated headlight cleaning nozzles, but heated lenses seem like a more elegant and technologically advanced solution. The nanotubes were chosen so as not to impede the passage of light through the lens. However, it will be interesting to see what Rivian actually puts into production.
The patent drawings show a headlight with a typical Rivian design, so it's unclear if it's intended for the R1, R2 or R3.
Source: Motor Authority
