Despite desperate efforts from other manufacturers to steal their thunder (year, I’m talking about you Audi), BMW managed to start the production of laser lights today, becoming the first auto maker in the world to do so.
Starting with autumn, this year, their i8 will be the first car in the world to use such headlights, featuring technology that was first introduced at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show.
The laser tech will be used only for high beams and will offer a range of up to 600 meters, twice as much as conventional LED lights. Low beams will be using LEDs. Of course, this feature will be optional.
The advantages of laser headlights are obvious and, apart from increasing the energy efficiency by 30 percent compared to LEDs, they also do so without heating up the surrounding area. Furthermore, laser diodes are ten times smaller than conventional light diodes therefore saving weight and allowing designers to run wild with their ideas for headlamps.
Laser light is also extremely bright, very close to daylight, becoming more pleasant to the eye than other forms of lighting and, coupled with the camera-aided high-beam assistant, dazzle is completely eliminated.
The best news though, is that the i8 won’t be the only BMW to use this type of lighting. According to the Munich-based company, they will try to offer this technology on more and more models in the near future.
The laser tech will be used only for high beams and will offer a range of up to 600 meters, twice as much as conventional LED lights. Low beams will be using LEDs. Of course, this feature will be optional.
The advantages of laser headlights are obvious and, apart from increasing the energy efficiency by 30 percent compared to LEDs, they also do so without heating up the surrounding area. Furthermore, laser diodes are ten times smaller than conventional light diodes therefore saving weight and allowing designers to run wild with their ideas for headlamps.
Laser light is also extremely bright, very close to daylight, becoming more pleasant to the eye than other forms of lighting and, coupled with the camera-aided high-beam assistant, dazzle is completely eliminated.
The best news though, is that the i8 won’t be the only BMW to use this type of lighting. According to the Munich-based company, they will try to offer this technology on more and more models in the near future.