Rivian Files Patent For Removable Auxiliary Battery That Sits In A Pickup’s Bed

Electric startup Rivian has applied for a patent concerning an auxiliary battery pack that can be slotted into the bed of its R1T pickup.

Users at the Rivian Forums stumbled upon the application recently filed in the United States, which states that “the auxiliary battery module can be positioned in the cargo area while supplying power to the electric motor, and can be removable and re-attachable from the electric vehicle.”

A drawing of the battery module shows it sliding into the Rivian R1T’s bed horizontally so as to not take up too much room. The patent application goes on to state that when the auxiliary battery module is attached, the R1T will be able to detect it and adjust the suspension, braking, and steering systems accordingly.

To ensure the auxiliary battery pack doesn’t overheat, it will share coolant with the pickup’s cooling system, something that could be accomplished by cooling lines in the battery module which hook up to those of the primary powertrain. There is also be a shared heat exchanger to keep things running smoothly.

While Rivian is a new player to the world of electric vehicles, it did recently secure a $700 million equity investment led by Amazon. This will help the automaker bring its R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV into production at a manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, with deliveries set to commence in late 2020.

Rivian has been valued at between $1 billion and $2 billion and is believed to have attracted the interest of other potential investors, including General Motors.