Vehicle lighting accounts for one of the most common CSA violations. The development of new lighting technologies has helped to address these issues, including the continued advancements and the adoption of LEDs lamps as a replacement for incandescent lamps. Brett Johnson, president and CEO of Optronics International, talks about these changes in the vehicle lighting segment.
Transcription of interview:
David Brierley, Fleet Maintenance: Welcome to VSP News: Uptime Update. I am your host David Brierley, managing editor of Fleet Maintenance magazine, covering all maintenance, all vehicle classes, all management, all the time.
I’m filling in this week for Erica Schueller, while she’s away attending a professional training program to earn her Class A commercial driver’s license, in order to gain a fresh perspective and better understanding of the industry we serve.
It’s a well-known fact that vehicle lighting accounts for one of the most common CSA violations. Fortunately, vehicle lighting manufacturers have worked to develop new lighting technologies to help address these issues. One of those developments includes the continued advancements and adoption of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, as a replacement for incandescent lamps.
We talk with Brett Johnson, President and CEO of Optronics International, about these changes in the vehicle lighting segment. He first talks about the shift from incandescent lamps to LEDs, and some of the benefits of LEDs.
Brett Johnson, Optronics: From an evolutionary perspective, LED lighting was first introduced to the commercial vehicle market in 1989. Like with most new technologies, it was quite expensive when it was introduced.
But, over the years as usage has increased dramatically, the pricing has come down significantly.
In fact, it really follows what’s referred to as Haitz’s Law, where every 10 years the cost of LED lighting will decrease by 10-fold, whereas the lumen output will increase 20-fold.
The primary benefit of LED lighting, which has been well documented and communicated, is really the robustness of LED lighting. Versus a 2,500-hour service life for an incandescent bulb, an LED lighting has a service life anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 hours.
I like to refer to us being in the “twilight” of incandescent lighting. Frankly, I can’t see how any OEM or fleet would specify any incandescent lighting on their vehicles.
And also, it’s sad but true, a $5 inoperable light can result in thousands of dollars in fines or productivity losses, or lower CSA (compliance, safety, accountability) scores.
Brierley, Fleet Maintenance: While OEMs have readily adopted and continue to specify LED lighting options, some still believe the aftermarket replacement for incandescent lamps must be similar components.
Johnson talks about why LEDs are an acceptable replacement part to incandescent bulbs, and how the industry can get past this misconception.
Johnson, Optronics: At the OEM level, the ratio of incandescent to LED lighting is about 5 percent to 95 percent. I only include the 5 percent of incandescent because there might be one or two OEMS still using it.
Really, that drives the aftermarket for LED lighting, based on the fact that it is standard at most OEMs.
But, on the other hand, there are a lot of incandescent lights still in service today.
And, some people don’t realize it’s very easy to replace an incandescent light with an LED light. In fact, it’s really just a plug-and-play.
Another obstacle, though, is still the price of LEDs. Even though they’ve come down so significantly, it’s still is at a premium to incandescent lighting.
One way that we’ve addressed both of those issues at Optronics is by developing the One Series of LED lamps. The One Series is a minimum diode LED product line that gives you all of those benefits – in terms of the 50,000- to 100,000-hour service life, but at a fraction of the cost.
As a general rule, the One Series is only double the cost of incandescent, and about half the cost of other LEDs.
Not only that, but our One Series is available with the weathertight connectors, that are more prevalent in LEDs, as well as the PL-3 or PL-10 connectors that are common in incandescent.
Brierley, Fleet Maintenance: Lighting is critical throughout the vehicle - not just for external illumination like headlamps and tail lamps. Johnson provides insights into what we can expect for the future of vehicle lighting technology.
Johnson, Optronics: Lighting is moving far beyond just helping with sight. Science has shown us that lighting can have a significant impact on mood, on physiology, and the sanitation of the environment.
Optronics is developing really two areas that address the lighting environment of the cab and the sleeper compartment.
First is ergonomic lighting, where we’re working on the ability for that operator to adjust the lighting combination that best matches the tasks he or she is performing.
It’s done through adaptive lighting controls that also offer pre-programmed settings that can address the different phases that driver will be in – whether it's wakefulness, rest, or sleep. Or, being active. We’re committed to improving the health and the safety that driver’s environment.
In addition to ergonomic lighting, we’re also focusing on what’s best referred to as a cleansing light. That cleansing light emits specialized light waves that can cleanse that cab or sleeping compartment – of mold, bacteria and other fine particulate matter.
All in all, we’re committed to taking lighting to that next level to where it actually helps the environment and cleanses the environment, and gives that drive more control over the lighting in his or her environment.
Brierley, Fleet Maintenance: To read more about Optronics adaptable interior lighting controls, check out the link below.
Thank you for tuning in to VSP News Uptime Update, I’m your host David Brierley.
Until our next broadcast, keep up with this, and other industry topics, by visiting us online at VehicleServicePros.com.
Read more about Optronics adabtable interior lighting controls.
