As this goes live, Audi and BMW are in a race to bring the first LARP headlamp booster to market on selected premium cars. Will laser-based road illumination remain a costly option for high-end cars, or will it eventually be available in mass-market popular cars?
Here are the answers from a variety of lectures at the DVN Workshop held last month in Paris:
Automakers:
– Audi: Dr. Wolfgang Huhn and Stephan Berlitz
Although design will remain a very important factor in the choice of any lighting technology, at the horizon of 2024, contained costs will play an important role. As massive cost reduction will be allowed by system integration, Matrix LED with ADB system will become the standard. Laser will still be an exotic high end technology in 2024.
– BMW: Christian Amann
Advantages of the high beam laser light booster in the BMW i8 include a high-luminance white light source with higher visibility range, higher efficiency, smaller package, altogether an efficient light source alternative. Laser light is an enabler to reach full CO 2 savings potential in lighting of up to 2g/km! As for challenges: progressive action must be taken by the supplier industry. LED and Laser lights have to be handled with higher focus in packaging. Standardisation is needed to cope with the high number of car and styling variants. New ADB functions mean dedicated electronic circuits and software. New players in the supplier market show different approaches.
Cost reduction is urgent to enable further functional enhancements. Styling challenge results in demand for new ideas in guiding the light. Robust product applications is crucial for successful business
– Generalist car makers GM-Opel, VW and Renault:
A conviction: The revolution brought by LEDs in automotive is not about to end soon, in front or rear lighting. Complexity, unpredictability, and multiple skills shortage will be the biggest challenges. Laser will still be an exotic high end technology in 2024 .