In the very near future, drivers may be seeing things in a different light – literally. That’s because of the growing interest automakers have on LEDs or light emitting diodes used for headlights. In fact, as early as next year, LED headlights will be available in at least one new vehicle model, the new Lexus Hybrid LS. Technological breakthroughs have made LEDs bright enough to be used as headlights and daytime running lights. Unlike conventional lamps which use filaments or gas, LEDs use semiconductors to release electrical energy in the form of light.

LEDs offer several special characteristics and advantages over conventional lights. First, LEDs are power-efficient. For instance, LED running lights from Hella consume only 10 watts compared to the 150 watts it takes for a conventional headlight to light up in low beam. Second, LEDs offer more than just a single light beam. They can be dispersed into different interesting and exciting patterns to add to the aesthetic aspect of vehicles. Third, LEDs take up less space than conventional headlights freeing up more space for safety equipment in the vehicle’s front.

And lastly, LEDs are long-lasting. In fact, LEDs can outlast most vehicles. Steve Landau, spokesman for Philips Lumileds Lighting, makers of LED lights, says that LEDs can run for 50,000 hours with only a 30% decrease in brightness. He adds that the average car uses its headlights for only about 5,000 years within 10 years.

Meanwhile, the NHTSA says that LED headlights are legal if they meet standards for all other headlight types. LEDs are already becoming a staple in many concept cars in recent years. It may not be long before every car on the road has one.