In 2007, GaN-based LEDs will reach a higher luminous efficiency than fluorescents.
The ramping-up of solid-state lighting business will really start at that time, in particular for automotive applications, both for interior and exterior lighting.
HB-LEDs have really strong market opportunities in the automotive, many reasons for that, among them:
• Important reliability (e.g.
lifetime much larger than needed)
• Use for internal and external lighting,
• Low consumption and power saving
• Mercury freeThe small size of LEDs also enables:
• New design possibilities and high tech appearance
• Increased integrationMoreover, in term of security, LEDs have fast reaction time: LEDs light up around 250 milliseconds quicker than bulbs.
Therefore, at 100 km/h speed, that means a gain in braking distance of 7 meters.
HBLEDs have large market opportunities for front lighting for cars as the HBLEDs performance will increase, fewer chips will be necessary (less than 15 should be necessary in 2009 for all functions).The cost objective for auto (10$/klm) will be reached in 2010 for a wide diffusion of HBLEDs in front lighting.
However, HBLEDs should be implemented before this date (around 2007) on high-end cars...