The Decline of Laser Headlights in the American Market
Laser headlights, once hailed as the next big thing in automotive lighting, have had a fascinating journey in the industry.
In 2013, BMW made a groundbreaking announcement, introducing laser headlights to the world. These innovative lights, with their ability to outperform LEDs in terms of efficiency, promised a brighter and more focused beam that could reach up to 600 meters down the road.
The technology behind laser headlights is intriguing. They achieve their vibrant white light by using blue lasers to illuminate yellow phosphors. This combination creates a light that is both bright and focused, making it perfect to serve as an ultra-efficient long-throw high beam.
However, the road for laser headlights has not been without bumps. They are more expensive to produce compared to conventional bulbs, a factor that has been a significant deterrent for mass adoption.
When used as high beams, laser headlights, with the aid of steerable headlamp assemblies and camera-based tracking systems, wouldn't disrupt other road users. This feature, coupled with the technology's longer throw distance, made it an attractive option.
But the story doesn't end there. As LED headlight technology continued to improve, with newer models providing better brightness and light distribution, the spotlight shifted. Adaptive matrix LED headlights, for instance, allow sections of the headlight beam to be turned on and off at will, providing better illumination without dazzling other road users.
In Europe, regulations allow headlights to reach up to 430,000 candela, a level that laser headlights can easily surpass. However, US regulations (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard rule 108) limit headlight intensity to 150,000 candela and beam range to 250 meters, effectively making laser headlights less effective compared to older technologies.
As a result, both Audi and BMW, after about ten years, discontinued laser headlights mainly due to these restrictive US regulations and because advancing LED matrix headlights offered better light distribution and adaptive features. Both automakers have since shifted focus to LED matrix headlights as the preferred alternative technology.
Audi, for instance, has no plans to implement laser lighting modules in future products. BMW, too, is phasing out laser headlights from its future models, focusing on LED Matrix lights instead.
Despite this, both companies did bring laser headlight technology to a range of luxury models, including sedans and SUVs, before making the switch. Audi launched the limited-production Audi R8 LMX with laser headlights before BMW's i8 entered production.
Laser headlights, while they may have had a short stint in the limelight, have undeniably left an impact on the automotive industry. Their compact size, brightness, and long throw distance have paved the way for advancements in automotive lighting, setting a high bar for future technologies to meet.
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