The earliest versions of headlights were lamps on horseless carriages. But using candles as the earliest form of illumination had a huge flaw. As horseless carriages became faster, the candles were easily blown out by the flow of air. In 1908, electric headlights were introduced and the industry never looked back.
The evolution of headlights was fairly slow. Thanks to recent technology developed in the past few decades, we have more efficient lighting sources like LEDs.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor light sources that emits light when a current flows through them. The earliest applications of LED technology was seen in household appliances. In 2004 Lexus brought us the first example of how LED technology could be used on headlights. They used an LED bulb as the low beam but still opted for a halogen high beam. Audiwas the first manufacturer to use a full LED headlight with the release of the 2008 R8.
LED headlight technology is still in its infancy but is perfect for the direction the automotive industry is going in. Efficiency is key with every new model released, and LED headlights help in that mission. Since LED headlights don’t require a great amount of electricity to illuminate, manufacturers prefer using this technology because the alternator does not need to work as hard to power them. The world’s best selling electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf, uses LED headlights with its signature daytime running lamps as a testament to how efficient they are. This allows the Leaf to squeeze 215-Miles out of its 160-kW electric motor.
Maintenance of LED headlights won’t be as often as its halogen counterparts. LED headlight bulbs have a lifespan of 15,000 hours compared to the 1,000 hours halogen headlights have. This translates to 11-22 years of operation before needing to replace them. These headlight bulbs are manufactured with higher grade material in order to achieve the illumination required for automotive use. Failures with LED headlights occur less often when compared to halogen or HID (High-intensity discharge lamps) headlights.
If your car did not come with LED headlights as standard, you can convert them with a purchase of a headlight kit. This gives you the advantage of LED headlightswithout needing to purchase ballasts or modifying the electrical system of your vehicle. There are LED headlight kits which are “direct plug-in” replacements. This means it can be directly fitted in place of your halogen headlight bulb. Installing this headlight replacement yourself is simple and may not even need the help of a mechanic, depending on your DIY skills.
Before purchasing any headlight modification or upgrade, consult your state laws to make sure that vehicle complies with the specific color and type of headlights. LED technology is getting cheaper to manufacture which means its is now cheaper to purchase LED headlights for your car. Typically, it will cost $125-$1000 for aftermarket LED headlight kits. Illumination of LED headlights aren’t just beneficial for the driver but also for the vehicles around. The light beam of an LED headlight is not as blinding as the HID or halogen. Being the more efficient and longer lasting solution, LED headlights are a great upgrade for any car.
Don’t miss out on the benefits of driving with LED headlights. Whether your in the market to replace old ones or to upgrade your current headlights, look no further than CarParts.com.
Take your pick from our wide selection of headlights sourced from reputable brands in the industry. All our automotive lights passed stringent quality control tests to ensure they meet industry standards. They also come with a low-price guarantee, so you can get good LED headlights for your ride without breaking the bank.
Ready to start shopping? Enter your ride’s year, make, and model into our vehicle selector to view compatible headlights. Then, use the search filters to view the ones that fit your preferred brand, price, and features.
Our round-the-clock customer service team is just a call away via our toll-free hotline in case you have questions. And if your new headlights don’t fit, simply file a claim, ship them back to us, and we’ll issue your refund一it’s that easy.
Get LED headlights for your car, SUV, truck in as fast as two business days. Check out our catalog and shop now!
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
View Comments
This is a growing concern for us older drivers, after dark on city streets and most all busy roads with two-way traffic: oncoming cars with these new "white" lights are frequently painful to our eyes. The former "yellow" lights are seldom painful, even on the high-beam setting. Is anything being done at the Federal DOT level to solve this?