Making the Case: E-Textiles for Automotive Lighting
There are many solutions out there for automotive designers and manufacturers to choose from when it comes to lighting the interior of a vehicle. How do e-textiles measure up against the rest?
There are a lot of technical challenges that come with automotive interior lighting. Whatever technology is used, it must be reliable and robust. E-textiles are often more reliable than most wired options. When we look at a starlight headliner, they are made of fiber optic wires. These are not as durable as LEDs. Traditional wires and rigid PCBs have good electrical performance, but poor mechanical performance. Effective, reliable interior lighting requires exceptional performance in both areas. Loomia’s LEL, for example, meets both essential criteria.
Now, it’s not to say some e-textiles like knit e-textiles aren’t lacking. While they certainly offer more flexibility, they can be challenging to manufacture and cannot be stacked in layers. However, they are still more cost effective and easier to integrate than wired options.
You can see below in our Comparative Analysis how each technology measures up:
The large benefit to using the LEL e-textile for automotive lighting is the range of functionality. For example, you can customize the LEL to include RGB or single-color LEDs. Additionally, lighting can still function while submerged in water.
Overall, the big issue many engineers and designers run into when creating lighting systems for automotive interiors is wiring. Wires are pesky; they break, short-circuit, and remedying the issue is complex and expensive. The beauty of e-textiles is in the integration. For lighting applications, the LEL is placed below a layer of PSA or heat-activated adhesive and leather, wood, or other surface material. If you want to add lighting to switches on a door panel, the LEL lighting system can be integrated directly into the trim—eliminating the need for plastic housing. Typically, Human Machine Interfaces in automotive interiors require large plastic housing which can make it difficult to implement switches and controls. No plastic housing makes for a more environmentally friendly solution.
Lighting is a key component in interactive user interfaces. As automotive design becomes more advanced, user interface design must keep up. Drivers use lighted cues to complete necessary actions in a vehicle, especially when they are driving at night. It is especially important to have well designed and reliable lighting for car dashboards, as these visuals are vital to driving safety. E-textiles are highly customizable, and parts are often replaceable. If something goes wrong with the system, it can be fixed.
Customizability is especially important when creating an ambience with automotive interiors. Drivers not only want their interior lighting to keep them safe and better-utilize the car’s features, but also to create a mood and evoke a feeling. Luxury vehicles must offer an elevated experience for passengers and reflect their lifestyle. Lighting plays a significant role in this. E-textiles can integrate ambient lighting into headliners, door panels, and seats, and can do so seamlessly with no bulky wires or components. The beauty of a system like the LEL is that the lighting is flat, so it can be integrated in between layers with no gaps.
E-textiles are the future of automotive interior lighting, and several large automotive manufacturers like Hyundai and Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) are taking notice. They are not only more cost-effective than wired solutions, but their compatibility with manufacturing equipment is becoming greater as technology advances. Hopefully, one day, e-textiles will be a common material in our vehicles.
Check out more blog posts:
E-Textiles in the Automotive Industry