BMW Shows How the i8's Laser Headlights Work

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Concept would have laser headlights back in 2011, it was met with confusion, but two years later BMW is finally explaining how the technology works and its benefits. When it goes on sale in late 2014, it will be the first car in the world to offer the technology. 

The laser headlights on the i8 will be an optional extra and only work when the high beam is activated. With a 600m (1969ft) range, It means that the high beam gives visibility six times longer than the low beam and twice as long as an LED high beam, and it uses even less energy than a LED high beam. 

BMW's system uses laser diodes to emit blue laser light that is diffused over a fluorescent phosphor material into a white light that is projected onto the road. The light is extremely white with higher intensity and brightness even than LED headlights.

For comparison of the efficiency gains using lasers, an LED light will produce around 100 lumens of light per watt. Using the same amount of power, a BMW's laser system produces around 170 lumens. That means that lasers are about 60% more efficient. In a car that uses electric power, like the i8 Concept, that means the headlights could be tuned to use fewer watts while producing light equal to the best headlights available and save power in the battery.

There is also a significant savings in space by using lasers. The laser diodes are 1/100th the size of even LED lights. In theory this means that the headlights could be made much smaller in future vehicles.

Source: Car Scoops