History of Automobile Headlights

In the late 1800s when automobiles started driving on the streets (or lack there of) of America, it revolutionized the way things were done in more ways than one. As you can imagine, driving during night time back then proved to be difficult and highly dangerous.

Still today, so many automotive accidents occur at night. It didn't take long before automobile manufacturers realized that headlights were necessity if cars were going to stay on the road after the sun went down.

The first headlights, also referred to as headlamps, were unveiled in 1898. Invented by the Electric Vehicle Company, these electric headlamps were first installed as an option for the Columbia Electric Car. However, the short service life of the light filaments, coupled with the harsh conditions environmental conditions of the outdoors, prevented the widespread use of electric headlamps on cars. In addition, there were technological hurdles that prevented the creation of a dynamo small enough to be installed on cars, yet powerful enough to provide sufficient lighting for night driving purposes.

By 1904 the technology had advanced, and acetylene headlights became the norm, with "Prest-O-Lite" becoming the brand of choice by many car manufacturers. Four years later, in 1908, Peerless started to delve into electric-powered headlamps. But it was the Cadillac Company that introduced the blueprint to modern headlight system. In 1912, Cadillac first installed a lightning system that was fully integrated with the car’s ignition mechanism.

This became the trend for the most part of the automotive history until in 1940, when technology allowed car manufacturers to produce sealed beam headlights. This system was incorporated by major car makers in North America, Japan, and Europe throughout the 1960s.

Modifications to the system were introduced, such as control and dips, but the technology wouldn't evolve much for another 50 years, until halogen bulbs came to the scene and reinvented automotive headlights.  However, most cars in the United States did not use halogen bulbs until 1978.

In 1991, the BMW 7-Series became the first roadster to debut xenon headlights. Xenon bulbs were not only brighter than halogen headlights, but also had a longer lifespan, lasting up to 2,000 hours compared to the 1,000 hours of service provided by halogen bulbs.

LED (short for light-emitting diode) technology debuted on the 2008 Lexus LS 600h hybrid for low-beam and side-marker lighting. LED is now the norm for all cars manufactured in this ear up until today. That said, LED lights are not yet fully used as primary headlights for most cars. Many car manufacturers install LED lights for use with turn signals, daytime running lights or brake lights.

While it is costlier than most forms of automotive lighting, it has lower power requirements, making it an ideal option for electric and hybrid vehicles.

There is still an on-going debate between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and several car makers on whether LED technology can be utilized as primary source of lighting for headlights. For now, NHTSA maintains that LED technology does not fit the requirements provided by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which disallows the use of headlights that which “shine in such a dynamic way.”

Regardless of their technology, headlights today start to fade and show signs of wear because of the harsh outdoor elements. At D&I Body Shop & Glass, we offer professional restoration services for headlights that will revitalize the look of your car, and restore their brightness.

For more information on headlight restoration, call us at (404) 885-9575 or visit our shop at 1779 Marietta Blvd NW Atlanta, GA 30318.