Whatever Happened to BMW's Laser Headlights?
4 days ago
- #BMW
- #Automotive Technology
- #Laser Headlights
- BMW is phasing out laser headlights due to high costs and U.S. regulatory limitations.
- U.S. regulations restrict headlight brightness to 150,000 candela, while Europe allows up to 430,000 candela.
- BMW's laser headlights can project light over 600 meters, but U.S. regulations cap it at 250 meters.
- Replacing a single BMW laser headlight costs $7,000 to $8,000, making LEDs a more economical choice.
- Laser headlights convert 70% of electricity to light, compared to LEDs' 20%, but their high cost is prohibitive.
- BMW's laser headlights aimed for a color temperature of 5500 to 6000 K, ideal for reducing eye fatigue and improving visibility.
- BMW and Audi competed to bring laser headlights to market first, with BMW winning via the i8 in 2014.
- Despite their benefits, laser headlights' high cost and regulatory hurdles make them impractical for mass-market use.