Cadillac announces full-LED headlamp

[TinmanMS6]

Cadillac together with Hella has announced today that it will be launching the world’s first volume full-LED headlamp on its 2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum edition. Unlike rival luxury brand Lexus, which offers single projector LED lamps on its LS600h flagship, Cadillac’s design uses the efficient diodes for the entire headlight assembly – indicators, low beam and high beam.

The benefits of LED headlamps are that they emit a greatly more precise light pattern, while emulating the characteristics of natural daylight much more closely than traditional auto lighting. They also use much less power and last more than 20 times longer than traditional halogen bulbs.

In addition to LED technology, the Escalade SUV also benefits from Magnetic Ride Control.

[mikeyb]

Interesting. But expensive to replace or fix.

[TinmanMS6]

True, but HIDs are already ridiculously expensive. I wish I could recall what they cost on my MS6. I want to say $700 each, though.

[mikeyb]

True, but HIDs are already ridiculously expensive. I wish I could recall what they cost on my MS6. I want to say $700 each, though.

For the whole assembly. That is not including the HID bulb which sells for over a $100.00. When I first started working in the auto industry HID bulbs were over $500.00 and now that they are appearing on regular cars like the Mazda3 and GTi the cost has come down.

[TinmanMS6]

Yeah, it's only a matter of time before the same happens with LEDs.

Just because I was a nerd and I was curious, I was looking for LED light bulbs to replace regular incandescent bulbs/compact fluorescents, and they're out there, but they're ridiculously expensive. IIRC, they were like $40/bulb.

LEDs are starting to pop up everywhere, though, because they are so bright and use so little power. It's only a matter of time before the price comes down.

[mikeyb]

Here at work I'm selling LED interior bulb replacements.

[TinmanMS6]

Here at work I'm selling LED interior bulb replacements.

What's the price difference between that and a standard bulb?

[mikeyb]

What's the price difference between that and a standard bulb?

anywhere between 6 to 20 bucks.

[tunersteve]

On my Protege and my MS6 I've swapped all the interior bulbs with LEDs. Yeah, it's pricy, but they almost never burn out, and their power consumption is usually 3-10% of the incandescent bulbs. I've been doing some research at school on the benefits of LEDs, and its staggering how much more efficient they are.

[ZoomZoomH]

so how much brighter are LED headlight bulbs? i've never seen one in such high-luminence applications...

[TinmanMS6]

On my Protege and my MS6 I've swapped all the interior bulbs with LEDs. Yeah, it's pricy, but they almost never burn out, and their power consumption is usually 3-10% of the incandescent bulbs. I've been doing some research at school on the benefits of LEDs, and its staggering how much more efficient they are.

Actually, on Mythbusters yesterday, the LED light bulb was using 10% of the power of the compact fluorescent bulb, which was pulling about 15% of the power of the incandescent.

[tunersteve]

Actually, on Mythbusters yesterday, the LED light bulb was using 10% of the power of the compact fluorescent bulb, which was pulling about 15% of the power of the incandescent.

Doing some quick math here:
55W bulb x 15% = 8.25W (fluorescent compared to std.)
8.25 W x 10% = .825W (LED compared to fluor.)
.825W/55W = 1.5% of a std. bulb

Go and search for people who swapped out their christmas lights to LEDs this past year. Those numbers are really impressive.

[TinmanMS6]

Doing some quick math here:
55W bulb x 15% = 8.25W (fluorescent compared to std.)
8.25 W x 10% = .825W (LED compared to fluor.)
.825W/55W = 1.5% of a std. bulb

Go and search for people who swapped out their christmas lights to LEDs this past year. Those numbers are really impressive.

You could have just taken 10% of 15%.

.10 * .15 = .015
:p

[tunersteve]

You could have just taken 10% of 15%.

.10 * .15 = .015
:p

I was showing my work. It's the engineer in me coming out.

[TinmanMS6]

I was showing my work. It's the engineer in me coming out.

Do you work as an engineer, or are you still in school?

[ZoomZoomH]

anyone know how BRIGHT they are, compared to halogen/HID!?!??

[tunersteve]

Do you work as an engineer, or are you still in school?

Both. I'm co-oping as a project engineer at a glass plant, and still finishing up my bachelor's in elec. engineering. Some of my design projects have used LED's, and since they're trying to move to them in the near future, I find them pretty interesting.

[TinmanMS6]

anyone know how BRIGHT they are, compared to halogen/HID!?!??

I'm pretty sure they can be as bright as you want them. Just add more bulbs to the array. Generally, though, I think they're a lot brighter.


Both. I'm co-oping as a project engineer at a glass plant, and still finishing up my bachelor's in elec. engineering. Some of my design projects have used LED's, and since they're trying to move to them in the near future, I find them pretty interesting.

PM sent.

[tunersteve]

There have been a few companies who've demoed LED high/low headlamps at the SAE World Congress here in Detroit over the past few years. I think the technology is here, but the cost is what needs the work. With the push for "greener" cars, I would imagine that these would be on the forefront of design.

[TinmanMS6]

I recall reading somewhere (I think I might have posted it here) that LED headlights could net you a 5% bump in fuel economy due to the reduced alternator draw.

[tunersteve]

The other thing that companies should look to is the 18V power system. It's been around for a while and would also increase fuel economy, but would take a major dedication for future vehicles to get the ball rolling.

[TinmanMS6]

The other thing that companies should look to is the 18V power system. It's been around for a while and would also increase fuel economy, but would take a major dedication for future vehicles to get the ball rolling.

I've got the feeling that all of these little tricks that they've known about but, for the most part, ignored are all about to pop up at once on a lot of models. Auto stop-start, regenerative braking, etc. are all about to get a lot more popular on non-hybrids.

[clicknext]

How does the difference in uniformity of light affect the application of LEDs in cars? Incandescent lightbulbs give off a very uniform light all around, while LEDs (at least the ones I've seen) are very directional. This does seem like a good idea, though, with the efficiency and long life of LEDs.

[tunersteve]

How does the difference in uniformity of light affect the application of LEDs in cars? Incandescent lightbulbs give off a very uniform light all around, while LEDs (at least the ones I've seen) are very directional. This does seem like a good idea, though, with the efficiency and long life of LEDs.

At first, most LEDs produce a more focused light, but with some recent design changes, some LEDs are available in a wedge design that diffuses the light more evenly.

LEDs should be better for headlamps since they've been making focused ones for years now.

[wmbeaver]

as if HIDs weren't blinding enough