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If you asked someone in the 1940s and early 1950s about the future of the automobile, they would have told you they were looking forward to flying cars at the turn of the 20th century. While technology has allowed humans to advance greatly in automotive engineering since it was first manufactured, unfortunately we have not yet reached the technology to create flying cars for the masses. At least not now. The 21st century is an innovative phase of engineering where “green technology” is the main focus and in an effort to rely less on fossil fuels and more on alternative options such as electricity. Hybrid vehicles with gas and electric engines are becoming more and more popular among consumers in order to save money on gas and reduce toxic emissions. Full electric vehicles are also starting to emerge, but they have a very high price tag attached to them. To conserve energy, more efficient methods of lighting such as LED lights are also becoming increasingly popular among car manufacturers and regular consumers. LED lighting technology is becoming the future of automotive lighting engineering.
Hybrid vehicles are automobiles that use both a gas engine and an electric motor to propel themselves. A short list of notable hybrid vehicles that many consumers drive include the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, Lexus CT200h, Ford Fusion, and many more. Thanks to the engineering of these automobiles, it is not common to see EPA-rated MPG (Miles Per Gallon) of 40 or more on the road or highway. The many benefits of hybrid vehicles include saving money by spending less at the gas station, reducing your carbon foot print in the world, and access to HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) or what are known as carpool lanes. Along with saving money and giving you access to more convenient features on the highway, hybrid cars also produce less harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide, mono-nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide.
In addition to hybrid vehicles, automakers are starting to produce and sell full electric vehicles such as the Scion iQ, Chevrolet Volt, Tesla Roadster, Toyota RAV4 EV, and others. Unlike their close hybrid counterparts; These full electric cars do not use a gas engine. Full electric vehicles are the ultimate way to save money on gas; Savings of up to $580 advertised by companies such as Tesla. Since these cars do not use internal combustion engines, they produce no tail pipe emissions; It is the gold standard of a green technology vehicle. One of the downsides of this new era of automobiles is that the high starting price scares away consumers, but over time they will become more affordable as technology advances. Apart from cost, the integration of charging stations across the country is still several years away, making it inconvenient to travel long distances without worrying about charging the car.
Other technology innovations are also being integrated into these cars such as LED lighting to improve the efficiency of the vehicle. LED stands for a “light emitting diode” and is a semi-conductor that lights up when power is applied. LEDs are more efficient at converting energy into visible light than incandescent bulbs. This characteristic of light makes it an attractive piece of technology for hybrid and full electric vehicles that can benefit from every bit of power efficiency. Many manufacturers are beginning to integrate LED technology into their cars; For example the Toyota Prius and Lexus CT200H have the option of coming equipped with factory-installed LED headlights. Factory-installed LED tail lights and LED daytime running lights are also becoming more and more popular among car manufacturers; Whether the car is a hybrid, full electric or gas/diesel engine. Not only are LED lights more efficient, but they are also able to produce a more aesthetically pleasing color of light. LED lights can be produced in a variety of colors such as warm white, pure white, red, amber and more which can be used on a vehicle in a variety of ways; Examples include license plate lights, turn signals, headlights, running lights, taillights, interior lights, and more!
While we are not yet in the era of flying cars, we are slowly moving forward in technology one step at a time. While the cost of this advanced technology is still expensive, as it gets better and becomes more integrated into the everyday world; It will be more economical. LED lights are becoming standard equipment on many vehicles and even commercial and residential lighting systems. The future is very bright for LED lights and will continue to grow and mature with the automobile industry as the “green technology” era unfolds.
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