TACH Auto Parts Review: Are you ready for LEDs? Is your car?
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By Thom Cannel
Senior Editor
Michigan Bureau
The Auto Channel
Although virtually every modern vehicle, whether truck, SUV, CUV, automobile, or motorcycle uses styled headlamps, it’s only been a few years since everything used DOT approved 7” headlamps. Obviously there are plenty of vehicles still in service that need these big round lights, whether because they’ve shattered or burned out.
Modern lamps are typically formed from polycarbonate, not glass, for increased damage resistance. Their stylish and fanciful forms fill the corners of almost every automobile, though motorcycles are more apt to use the familiar DOT approved lamp. Newer lighting instruments, fancy jargon for lights, have abandoned familiar tungsten filaments for HID (High Intensity Discharge), Xenon, or Halogen bulbs. They have the advantage that if they burn out, the bulb is replaceable while using the still-intact headlamp housing. These newer instruments are much brighter, and thus safer. They usually distribute light more uniformly and more broadly, again they are safer.
The very latest lighting is based on LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes. Found first on Audi and Cadillac, they are now used by Lexus and more exotic cars. LED lights are also used for DRL daylight running lights and accent lighting. LEDs offer multiple benefits to car designers like space efficiency, less weight, and they are much more energy efficient which permits smaller, lighter alternators. They also typically add $1500-$2000 to the price of the car when optional.
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