Designers and engineers of multiple vehicle types are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to develop new innovations that improve the driving experience. All-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes are a few examples that may have come to mind from past innovations.

But what about vehicle lighting?

For more than 130 years, vehicle lighting has been used to help drivers see–and be seen. Yet, many of today’s fleet truck lighting systems still use conventional incandescent or halogen lights that diminish visibility and longevity–ultimately compromising driver safety while increasing maintenance costs.

Sustainable OEM vehicle manufacturing initiatives and radical new electric-powered vehicles are driving a new way of thinking about every part and feature, including how multiple functions can be seamlessly integrated. As a result, the future of on-vehicle lighting is moving beyond the established concept of one light/one function and fueling the development of new multi-function LED lighting options.

Experience the benefits of LED lighting technology

Beyond giving OEM vehicle manufacturers a new option to evolve their designs, it’s fair to ask: how could new vehicle lighting technology impact my fleet purchases and overall ownership experience?

Roughly a decade ago, the introduction of LED headlights ushered in the next level of vehicle lighting technology. LED headlights are now the new standard for long-lasting performance, delivering significantly brighter light that increases driver visibility while lasting up to 20 times longer than conventional bulbs to reduce fleet maintenance costs.

LED lighting innovation is continuing to progress on every front to improve safety–including options with intelligent, automated technology that enhances driving in wintery conditions. Roughly about 70% of all U.S. roads are located in regions where it snows. Since LED lights generate minimal heat, sleet- and snow-covered lights can quickly diminish visibility, enhancing an existing safety concern for winter drivers.

For fleets operating in these regions, advanced new LED headlights include integrated lens heating technology that senses and automatically eliminates condensation to de-ice and remove snow from the lens surface. In addition to providing the maximum visibility drivers need when operating large fleet vehicles in these challenging conditions, these “smart” lights deliver all of these crucial safety benefits without the need for driver interaction.

Further advancing the concept that each component should enable the vehicle to do its job better in varying conditions, multi-function LED headlights represent the latest groundbreaking innovation in OEM vehicle lighting. One example of this revolutionary new technology delivers five critical lighting functions along with the convenience of an all-in-one solution:

• Low Beam: Improved visibility to easily see up to 250 feet ahead;
• High Beam: Better visibility up to 500 feet ahead for safer operation at higher speeds;
• Daytime Running Lights: Additional visibility during daytime hours;
• Front Position: Added illumination for enhanced visibility in all conditions; and
• Front Turn Signal Functions: Alert oncoming motorists to changes in direction.

Multi-function LED headlights are already expanding beyond one-off, custom solutions and becoming available with standard sizing and multiple mounting options. These new plug-and-play solutions can provide the same long-lasting, drop-in replacement performance and longevity to help fleet managers optimize their parts costs.

Multi-functional LED lights

As fleet managers consider new vehicle purchases, it’s important they make sure these vehicles come with the latest technology to provide the next-level performance and functionality that may ultimately become the industry standard in the not-so-distant future.

For starters, multi-function LED headlights reduce the number of potential failure points on the vehicle. Whether it’s commercial vans, school or transit buses, long-haul big rigs or anything in between, these vehicles often include many different lights in multiple sizes to support safe operation. A single LED headlight with multiple functions will simplify installation and parts costs associated with sourcing replacements to ensure fleet managers are getting the most value out of their purchases during the life of their vehicles.  

To complement the next-level functionality, multi-function LED lights also deliver added durability to ensure the longest life and increase the overall value and ownership experience.

Multi-functional LED headlights that are DOT and ECE compliant, along with IP67 and IP69K certification for optimal protection against water and other contaminants, provide an ideal solution for the demanding conditions that impact many fleet operations.

With the meteoric growth of electric or hybrid powered fleet vehicles and equipment in every segment, multi-function headlights can also play an important role in overall EV performance. It’s no secret that achieving the longest range possible is a driving force for today’s EVs and simple math confirms that multiple lights ultimately create a greater draw on an EV battery.

Incorporating a single, multi-functional LED headlight will reduce the pull on the battery. While this energy savings may seem minimal, it can have a positive impact on increasing operating ranges to deliver greater long-term value for EVs, especially for those larger commercial fleets with hundreds of vehicles.

Finally, incorporating multi-function LED lighting will do more than enhance a vehicle’s design and performance. The added simplicity will help manufacturers streamline their processes to create efficiencies that can help reduce the investment cost and help fleet managers get the most out of increasingly tighter budgets.

Gary Durian is the engineering director for technical solutions at J.W. Speaker.