If Rivian has proven anything in recent years it is the fact that it is always looking for intriguing ways to innovate and add extra functionality to its vehicles. The most obvious example of this is the gear tunnel on the R1T pickup and the famous camp kitchen that can slide in and out of this large storage place. It now appears the EV startup is looking to reinvent spare tire carriers.
A trademark application recently filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office reveals that the tire carrier can hold a full-size spare on the R1S and that the wheel itself is mounted inward. By mounting the wheel inward like this, Rivian has been able to fill the cavity within the wheel with all kinds of goodies.
Read: The Rivian R1T Could Be Getting A Portable Cinema
Indeed, the application uncovered by the Rivian Forums notes that the spare wheel could support things like a first air kit, a waste can, a vacuum canister, a compressed air system, and a toolbox. It could also be designed to accommodate a water container, an electrical cord, and different electrical appliances. What’s more, the ‘container’ within the spare wheel could be synched to the vehicle’s infotainment display and could show a reminder prompting the driver to remember to discard of any trash in the waste can.
The setup seems ingenious but if it is to ever make production, it will probably only be offered on future Rivian models as a very costly option.
This isn’t the only intriguing patent we’ve seen from Rivian in recent weeks. In November, it made an application for a portable cinema that can stored within the gear tunnel of the R1T. This setup included a large projector screen, wireless speakers, and the projector itself.
