Our automotive experts choose every product we offer. We may make money from the links on this page.

The electromagnetic blade is a typical Tesla weird and innovative, right in front of you.

The last car part you thought would change is being completely changed by Tesla, which has applied for a patent for a new windshield wiper design. The basic windshield wipers have not changed for a long time. It is just a small gear set that rotates back and forth to move the wiper blades on the windshield. Of course, as manufacturers learn how to make better contact with the windshield and reduce streaks in the field of view, the wiper blades have become more advanced, but Tesla showed in the patent application that it is looking at it in a whole new way this problem.

Tesla's patent application issued on September 5 describes an "electromagnetic wiper system for vehicle windshields." According to Tesla's description, this single-blade design should be more efficient and more beautiful, although it can also be adapted to a dual-blade setup from the drawing. It uses electromagnets and guide rails to work. Imagine high-speed magnetic levitation trains, named after the magnetic levitation they use to move from one place to another quickly and efficiently; this is the case on a smaller scale.

Tesla's design involves a block connected to the wiper arm and blade. The arm is connected to two guide rails to hold the system in place and ensure that the blades are in contact with the windshield. The block is how the entire arm and blade assembly moves because the block moves on a set of magnets surrounded by electromagnetic coils. When current passes through the magnet and coil, the block will pass through the windshield and drive the arms and blades.

For EVs, it is important that with this system, the wiper needs to consume less power from the car battery. Tesla mentioned that the mechanical parts of the traditional wiper will generate a lot of friction, which needs to provide more power for the motor that moves the arm forward and backward. Electromagnets are inherently frictionless, so the only friction in the Tesla wiper system comes from the sliding rail of the arm. This reduction in power consumption may increase the long-range Tesla Model S's already staggering 370 miles of driving range, but we have to wait and see to know how much this makes a difference.

Tesla is also considering its autonomous driving system when conceiving a patent for the wiper system. The point of contention is that the traditional wiper system is not as powerful as this new electromagnetic system. Time and weather will cause corrosion, and over time, the efficiency of traditional settings will decrease. The resulting lack of visibility may hinder Autopilot and other automated driving assistance devices that use cameras to track lanes and objects around the car. Better visibility is better for the camera and of course better for the driver.

After all, Tesla is doing what it does best: innovation. After greatly expanding the concept of electric vehicles, the company seems to have adopted the same mindset for details, such as windshield wipers.