In 2013, BMW marked the spirits at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the i8 and its laser headlights, quickly followed by Audi and other high -end manufacturers. This technology is based on three tiny lasers directed towards mirrors, then to a module containing yellow phosphorus. The result: an intense white light beam of up to around 800 meters, far beyond the LED capacities.
A laser that is expensive
But this beautiful idea came up against American regulations, in particular the NHTSA rule 108, which limits the light intensity to 150,000 Candela per system, or 75,000 per projector. For comparison, Europe authorizes up to 430,000 Candela. In the United States, this restriction reduces the useful scope of laser headlights to around 250 meters, the distance already covered by modern LEDs. Result: the practical advantage of lasers disappears, and their development becomes without interest.
Beyond the limits imposed by law, laser headlights also suffered from a high Price. Their manufacture required more complex optical and electronic components than LEDs, without forgetting precise calibration to guarantee the safety and reliability of the system. On the market, this technology remained confined to the most high -end models, which limited its large -scale adoption. As the Matrix LEDs perfected, the performance gap with lasers has reduced, but not their cost difference.
Faced with the regulations, BMW decided to turn the page. Last year, Andreas Suhrer, product manager for large sedans, confirming that on the next models, the manufacturer will focus on LED matrix lights. He added that the laser headlights were certainly excellent on pure scope, but the latest generation of LED offers better distribution.
LED adaptive headlights, or adaptive Driving Beam (ADB), use dozens or even millions of micro-mirrors to adjust the light beam in real time. They can thus avoid dazzling drivers in the opposite direction, while lit precise areas, such as a pedestrian or an animal. These systems make it possible to maximize visibility while preventing glare.
However, they too are limited to the United States by demanding standards that few manufacturers can immediately meet. The differences in safety standards and tests between Europe and America still slow down their adoption. The good news is that many cars sold on the American market already have necessary equipment. The day the regulations go on, a simple software update will be able to fully activate these functions, which will install smarter and laser lighting on the US roads.
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