Lighting the future with multi-function headlights

Electrification is powering the road to tomorrow, from equipment changes creating more sustainable manufacturing to the radical new EV design trends and functionality.

Designing vehicles in today’s EV world largely provides an open canvas. Gone are the combustion engine dictating rigid, cumbersome requirements. Now, small yet powerful electric motors and batteries are hidden between larger wheelbases, opening new possibilities with interior cabin space designs.

To elevate the innovation conversation beyond price and range, EV manufacturers can pave the way for a new way of thinking about every part and feature. It’s an exciting time to discover how EV functions can be seamlessly integrated including vehicle lighting.

Next level innovation and performance
Along with increasing driver safety and visibility, exterior vehicle lighting accents the vehicle’s profile, some even say headlights are the windows to a vehicle’s soul.

Emboldened with a brand-new, clean image, EVs are uniquely positioned to take vehicle lighting innovation further. In addition to playing a vital role in road safety, driver experience and curb appeal, incorporating creative lighting options in their designs help brands give their EVs a signature flair while allowing owners to illuminate their own personal style.

As part of creating the world EVs are promising, engineers and designers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on every front including their lighting packages. The future of on-vehicle lighting is moving beyond the established concept of one light/one function and fueling the development of new multi-function LED lighting options.

One example of this revolutionary new technology is a multi-function LED headlight that delivers five critical lighting functions along with the convenience of an all-in-one solution:
*Low Beam: Improved visibility to easily see up to 250 feet ahead
*High Beam: Better visibility up to 500 feet ahead for safer operation at higher speeds
*Daytime Running Lights: Automatically turns on to meet regional legal requirements
*Front Position: Added illumination for better visibility in all conditions
*Front Turn Signal Functions: Alert oncoming motorists to changes in direction

Multi-function headlights can play a role in an EV’s overall performance. It’s no secret that achieving the longest range possible is a driving force in today’s EV design and development. Simple math confirms multiple lights ultimately create a greater draw on an EV battery. Incorporating a single, multi-functional LED headlight will reduce the pull on the battery to help maximize energy savings and have a positive impact on increasing EV operating ranges.

Maximizing efficiencies and value
Much like their fossil fuel driven predecessors, EV vehicle innovators in automotive, powersports, work truck, and municipal vehicle OEMs must deal with their fair share of strategic challenges. Beyond the pressure of designing innovative solutions right the first time, increasing external pressures, from shortages of components, rising production costs, economic uncertainty, are squeezing budgets from all sides.

Multi-function LED lighting also does more than enhance an EV vehicle’s design and minimize energy consumption. By starting to incorporate multi-function lights in their designs, EV manufacturers can take advantage of this added simplicity to gain efficiencies and minimize costs. This simple change can streamline the manufacturing process while reducing retooling costs that may be needed for integrating multiple vehicle lights into their vehicles.

In addition to manufacturing efficiencies and added performance, multi-function LED headlights also reduce the number of potential failure points on the vehicle. Whether it’s a passenger car, public transportation vehicle, or work truck, EV’s can have different lights in multiple sizes to support safe operation. A single LED headlight with multiple functions will simplify the effort and cost associated with sourcing replacements to ensure end customers are getting the most value out of their purchase during the life of the vehicle.

To complement the next-level functionality, multi-function LED lights also deliver added durability to ensure the longest life and increase the overall value and ownership experience.

A single, multi-functional LED headlight that’s DOT and ECE compliant, along with IP67 and IP69K certification for optimal protection against water and other contaminants, provides an ideal solution for multiple municipal applications and other on- and off-road EV enthusiasts.

Innovate with collaborative partner – sooner than later
Designing great EV lighting solutions is about more than having the newest, lightest, cheapest, brightest thing. Substance matters as much as style, to investors, competition, and end customers. It’s about having the right solution for your application and about creating something that stands out while looking like it belongs, and always working like it should.

The EV market isn’t a place for compromises and there’s no place for a lighting solution that just fits spec, or just looks right or just meets the price point. It’s especially important to work with lighting suppliers on the cutting-edge and developing the new technology behind where the future of vehicle lighting is headed. The right partnership will also ensure you have the right light that meets budget, energy, and compliance requirements.

Ideal lighting suppliers believe in a collaborative approach, from initial concepting to the final testing and manufacturing phases, so they fully understand what you need and how they can help you realize it at scale.

Make sure to include your lighting partner early in the design and ideation phase, even before concepts have been sketched if possible. This invaluable collaborative experience allows you to take advantage of their first-hand knowledge to navigate the changes and challenges involved with figuring out what works and what doesn’t, to ultimately create your own designs that will make an impact and last to provide real value.