- The carmaker says the canopy can support up to six inches of snow
- It’s unclear if Rivian has any plans to produce and sell the accessory
- Rivian also patented a portable cinema that could be housed in the R1T’s gear tunnel
Rivian is working on yet another accessory for the R1T and this one could be perfect for owners who will take the EVs off-roading and camping.
The new patent, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, was published on May 14 and depicts a large canopy that deploys from a storage box mounted on the roof. It’s not dissimilar to the side awnings that are a popular accessory for pickups and SUVs, but Rivian’s canopy appears much more intricate and could provide a larger shaded area around the vehicle.
Read: This Is What We Know About The Rivian R1X
The carmaker’s canopy consists of inflatable tube arms pumped up using the vehicle’s onboard air compressor. Fabric can then be stretched over these arms. While you may think inflatable tubular arms would be extraordinarily flimsy, Rivian says they could be made from plastic, nylon, rubber, or latex, and could support the canopy under six inches of snow and wind speeds of up to 30 mph (48 km/h), Motorauthority reports.
It’s unclear if or when Rivian plans to launch a canopy similar to the one depicted in this patent. In late 2020, a patent filing revealed the carmaker had designed a detachable battery pack that could slot into the bolt of the R1T. Rivian said this battery pack could be available in 10 kWh, 15 kWh, and 20 kWh guises. Fast forward to mid-2024 and Rivian has failed to launch a removable battery pack like this and may never do so.
More recently, Rivian filed an intriguing patent for a projector and projector screen that could be housed within the R1T’s gear tunnel. Other recent patents suggest it is working on new versions of the R1T and R1S, potentially dubbed the R1X. These new models are expected to adopt more rugged designs than the standard models and may receive a new tri-motor setup.
