Rivian Patent Filing: BEV architecture design without any low-voltage batteries

[echerod]

https://electrek.co/2025/09/26/rivi...ble-diffuser-screen-gadgets-new-architecture/

The BEV architecture design without any low-voltage batteries sounds very appealing, here’s hoping it makes it to production.

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[staples]

My 2018 Zero FXS motorcycle is a BEV without a 12v battery. Granted it requires turning the physical key to turn on the DC-DC converter that then provides 12v to the non-propulsion components. With a quality converter that could reliably run continuously, it's probably not that hard of a challenge.

I couldn't read the patent info, so I'm not sure how they are claiming to do it. Maybe they have solved some of those long term reliability concerns that have prevented this in the past.

 

[Riviot]

You buried the lead...

Why don't all tow hitches have an attachment to do this?

 

[Time2Roll]

https://electrek.co/2025/09/26/rivi...ble-diffuser-screen-gadgets-new-architecture/

The BEV architecture design without any low-voltage batteries sounds very appealing, here’s hoping it makes it to production.

Well it is about time. Would seem simple to have a continuous low power converter for minimal communication as a sleep mode and a larger unit to turn on and power all accessories while in use.

 

[mkhuffman]

The problem with using the HVB for LVB functions has always been vampire drain. I would like to see the technical details for how they think they can do it without making the drain worse, but I get "unauthorized" when clicking on the links.

 

[COdogman]

The HV vs 12v battery thing is still the most difficult to explain to my non-EV driving friends. And I agree - it’s odd that this problem hasn’t been solved yet given all the knowledge and engineering that goes into modern EVs.

 

[beatle]

It sucks that the article has literally no info about the HV/LV architecture other than the mention. The author just punts by saying "This design (which is far too complex and filled with jargon for me to grasp fully)." The PTO link doesn't even go anywhere, so there's no information about it. I just get an "unauthorized" page, probably because it requires a login.

I wonder how they are isolating the HV battery. Is this just a pack design with a DC/DC converter housed inside the battery case itself? Perhaps it is a secondary converter that only needs to be powerful enough to close the contactors and maybe run the cell modem. Terrible article.

 

[schlosrat]

OK, the patent that the article refers to is this: US 12420876 B2

Which can be found here if you want to read the details: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/dow...4LTQ2MzAtOWMyNi01ODgyZmU3YjUwMDQiLCJleHAiOjB9

You can search for patents here if you like: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/ppubsbasic.html

This one happens to be titled "Deployable Defuser". I've not read it yet, so I don't see how it relates to using HV system for LV, but it's possible that is buried in there somewhere.

Update: Reading the linked article a little more closely, I see there were multiple patents referenced, and the article neglects to mention the patent number for the HV/LV system. That's on them for shoddy journalism on top of broken links. Oh well.

Update2: Found it (US-20250296474-A1) here: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/dow...4LTQ2MzAtOWMyNi01ODgyZmU3YjUwMDQiLCJleHAiOjB9

 

[Mellowyellow]

It just says unauthorized for me

 

[schlosrat]

It just says unauthorized for me

Do you mean the links I posted above to uspto.gov sites? Or do you mean the broken ones in the article the OP linked?

Hmmm... Now I'm getting "unauthorized" as well on two of those links I posted. No idea why.

If you try the general one for searching on the US PTO website, that one still works, and you can enter the patent number "20250296474" to find it that way.

 

[schlosrat]

https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/dow...zLTQ4NDktOTIzZi1kN2Y1ZGM3ZTNhOTYiLCJleHAiOjB9

 

[staples]

Did I understand this correctly from reading these?

They are going to use part of the pack as a low voltage battery... and do that a few times for redundancy. Then wire those LV batteries to redundant DC-DC converters with switching options for source batteries and destination LV buses.

I wonder how they will manage cell balance and wear on those chosen cells. Unless they are switching through the entire pack to minimize strain to any single LV battery's cells.

 

[SwampNut]

You buried the lead...

Why don't all tow hitches have an attachment to do this?

Because the cost would never be covered by the tiny savings. And isn’t this what we have with the removable cover already?

Also, it’s “lede” BTW, and has an interesting history. Webster even uses a related example for it:

And, not to bury the lede: All U.S-market Hyundais will be equipped with a NACS (North American Charging Standard) receptacle, compatible with Tesla’s Super-charger network.
— Wall Street Journal, Mar. 15 2025

 

[NY_Rob]

Lots of patents are filed without any product ever coming from it. With that in mind, maybe Rivian has had enough of costly/failed 12V batts to actually go ahead and develop and build this system

 

[SwampNut]

Lots of patents are filed without any product ever coming from it. With that in mind, maybe Rivian has had enough of costly/failed 12V batts to actually go ahead and develop and build this system

Just one of my failures cost them $1100-ish in hard dollars (towing) plus whatever to do the service. I'm on my fourth set of batteries.

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