The Rivian R2 Squeezed Out Six Extra Miles Of Range With This Innovative Design

"There are two types of electric car companies in the world: ones that slap parts wherever they fit, and others that apparently run computational fluid-dynamics simulations over the most mundane features to squeeze every last ounce of range out of their cars. Guess which one Rivian decided to be when designing the upcoming R2 SUV. One of the tiny features that Rivian's engineers obsessed over when designing the truck was the rear wiper."

"Ultimately, it was decided that the R2 absolutely needed one, but it also needed to have a rear window that could roll down and couldn't sacrifice miles for better visibility in the rain. Many EVs, like the Toyota bZ4X and original Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, did without rear wipers for various reasonsand this was not always a popular choice with car-buyers. So Rivian engineers did something unconventional and created a tiny recessed pocket that the rear wiper calls home when not in use."

"At the R2 prototype drive event attended by InsideEVs' Editor-in-Chief Patrick George, Rivian's design chief Jeff Hammoud explained why. The rear window rolls down, and people may to store gear out of it, like surfboards. "[We couldn't] package a rear wiper in a spoiler like some other vehicles, because there's just no packaging space for it," Hammoud said. "So your other option is to attach it to the body, one that doesn't look great, but then also causes issues if you're pulling things in and out.""

Rivian hid the rear wiper inside a recessed tailgate pocket to combine a roll-down rear window with aerodynamic efficiency and cargo access. The R2 includes a rear wiper because visibility in rain was prioritized without sacrificing range. Many EVs omit rear wipers to improve aerodynamics, which frustrated some buyers. Rivian's tailgate packaging constraints prevented mounting the wiper in the spoiler or on the body without obstructing cargo. The recessed pocket stores the wiper when not in use, preserving appearance and functionality. A patent shows the wiper tucked into the tailgate. The roll-down window enables carrying long items like surfboards, which influenced wiper placement decisions.

Read at insideevs.com