Owners of the Tesla Cybertruck driving in snowy conditions discovered that the LED headlights are easily blocked by the snow, leaving them in the dark.
The front design and the lack of heated lenses in the headlights could have worsened this problem, turning driving in the snow into an annoyance (even a serious safety issue).
Thanks to their unmatched efficiency, LED headlights are the preferred choice for modern vehicles. However, that same efficiency is also causing problems for owners who live in snowy climates.
Beautiful design of the Tesla, but very impractical
Since LED headlights practically do not emit heat, they allow snow and ice to accumulate, blocking the light. There are solutions to minimize this inconvenience, although few car manufacturers understand or take measures to improve the situation.
In November 2022, the first owners of a Rivian in colder climates discovered that the beautiful headlights of the R1T were a nuisance to drive in while it was snowing. As the front dashboard was essentially flat, snow and ice would accumulate on the headlights and block the light.
In some cases, designers can improve this situation by designing the headlights in a way that snow does not adhere to the lenses. Airflow alone is enough to keep the headlights clean, but this does not work when the headlights are flat and perpendicular to the airflow.
Wet snow is the worst, and even windshield wipers and spray systems can’t prevent it from blocking the headlights.
The Tesla Cybertruck impressed with its ultra-thin headlights, which seemed to come from the future. However, they were integrated between the trunk hood and the bumper in a recessed position. This has proven to be a very serious problem for driving safety.
