BMW is on the brink of transforming car design with groundbreaking E Ink technology, allowing vehicle owners to change the color of their car with a simple swipe on a smartphone. This innovation, spearheaded by Australian engineer Dr. Stella Clarke, could be available to consumers as early as 2027, offering significant benefits for road safety, sustainability, and convenience.
Dr. Clarke, the visionary behind this technology, shared with local media at a Melbourne event that the timeline for seeing E Ink in customer-delivered models is feasible within the next three to five years. “The dream is that in a car factory, you no longer have the traditional spray-painting cabins, but rather everything gets [E Ink] and every car can do every color,” she explained.
E Ink, the same technology used in e-readers like the Kindle, allows the surface of a car to instantly change color with minimal energy usage, providing both aesthetic flexibility and practical advantages. For instance, drivers could switch their car’s color from black to white on a hot day to keep the interior cooler or make the car flash in a crowded parking lot to locate it more easily.
While Dr. Clarke acknowledges that the technology will likely debut as a premium feature, she envisions it eventually becoming more widespread. Initially conceived in her attic during the COVID-19 lockdown, the concept quickly gained support within BMW, leading to a fast-tracked development process. The technology made its global debut at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on the BMW iX Flow, where it received widespread acclaim.
E Ink’s energy efficiency is a key advantage. Dr. Clarke notes that changing the color of a vehicle requires only about 20 watts, comparable to the power consumption of a single light bulb. The color remains stable without continuous power, making it an environmentally friendly option.
The technology also has practical applications beyond personal use. For example, ambulances could flash different colors instead of using sirens, or shared vehicles could display their availability and charge status externally. However, safety regulations will be critical, as the dynamic color-changing feature could be distracting in traffic.
Despite the promising outlook, several challenges remain, including rigorous product testing for UV resistance, temperature extremes, and potential damage from road debris. Dr. Clarke also acknowledged the competitive landscape, with at least one other automaker pursuing similar technology.
As BMW continues to refine and test this revolutionary technology, the potential for E Ink to reshape the automotive industry is immense, promising a future where vehicle color is not just a static choice but a dynamic feature adaptable to the owner’s needs and preferences.
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