BMW Laserlight Technology: How It Works and Benefits

BMW continues to develop innovative automotive technology. Yet, recently, BMW unveiled something truly remarkable at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show: Laser-based headlamps.

The BMW Laserlight system – which is available in some European BMW i8 models – improves high-beam output by two, meaning you can see twice as far down the road. And the technology creates light that’s 10 times brighter and more intense than traditional Xenon or LED headlamps.

But that’s not all. BMW Laserlight high-beams are also designed to prevent blinding oncoming traffic and the system is GPS-enabled, helping to better light turns in the road.

How Does BMW Laserlight Work?

The Laserlight system doesn’t project lasers onto the road. Instead, laser-created light is fired through a series of mirrors located within the headlamp assembly, which reflects and focuses the light into a lens.

The lens is filled with yellow phosphorus, a substance that reacts to intense light. Once the laser light is reflected into the lens, it interacts with the yellow phosphorous, which in turn creates a bright, highly intense white light.

Finally, this light is diffused to reduce its intensity and then reflected out of the front of the headlamp. The real benefit: The light is 10 times brighter than LED-created light.

Here’s another kicker: The system is highly efficient. BMW says that compared to traditional systems Laserlight is about 30 percent more efficient, and since the lights can create bright light in smaller housing, Laserlight enables designers to reduce the size of the housing and optimize design for aerodynamics.

Key Benefits of BMW Laserlight Headlamps

Laserlight headlamps, BMW says, are much brighter than traditional systems. That alone might be enough to convince you of this feature’s greatness, but there are plenty of other benefits. They include:

• Greatly Improved Sight: In tests, BMW said the laser-powered headlamps cast a light nearly a half-mile down the road. Traditional systems are only capable of half that. Simply put, BMW Laserlight is a must-have for rural drivers.
• Spotlighting Animals and People: Another feature: The Laserlight system has the ability to spotlight animals and pedestrians up to 300 feet away. Laserlight is equipped with an infrared camera that illuminates these obstacles.
• GPS Enabled: Laserlight is built with GPS functionality, which enables the system to predict upcoming turns in the road. Laserlight can then help drivers to better see curves in the road.
• Hands-Free Functionality: With Laserlight, there’s no need to turn off the lights when oncoming traffic is approaching. Instead, Laserlight uses a camera Selective Beam system that detects oncoming vehicles or those that are overtaking the BMW, and then, the beam is automatically dimmed to prevent blinding these vehicles.
• Heads-Up Display Capabilities: BMW has also said that the system’s “high power diodes” can essentially turn the road surface into a head’s up display. The lights can literally project information like MPH onto the road in the driver’s field of view.

When Will Laserlight Be Available in the U.S.

Until recently, the laser-based technology was banned in the U.S., but the rules have changed to accommodate this innovative technology. BMW says that an updated version of the lights will be available in the U.S., which includes automatic on/off rather than the auto-dimming feature. This feature will be rolled out in the coming years in BMW i8 models, and may eventually work its way into the entire line-up.