Wieselburg-based automotive specialist ZKW said it was supplying LED lighting technology for Geely’s Volvo C40 EV.
The headlight has a pixel module with 84 individually controllable LEDs. The light illuminates the road particularly efficiently, adapts dynamically to traffic and avoids dazzling other road users. A front camera and radar permanently scan the road, allowing up to five vehicles to be blanked simultaneously.
The design is unique: the hammer-shaped light arc sets visual accents that are distinctive for Volvo.
The headlight combines daytime running light, position light and turn signal light in a particularly compact form. An adaptive lighting system with camera and radar sensor ensures a high level of road safety by optimally illuminating the road without dazzling oncoming traffic. This is achieved by individually controllable LEDs combined in the pixel module. A front camera and the radar eye detect oncoming vehicles or vehicles in front and activate or deactivate the LED light in the headlamp’s pixel module via the control unit. Despite the compact dimensions of the front headlamp, the system achieves a high light output.
The unique LED light was developed in Wieselburg where the headlight is manufactured. The pixel module electronics come from the ZKW electronics plant in Wiener Neustadt.
Super-flat projection modules
The powerful light output of the premium headlamp is achieved by the LED pixel module in combination with the innovative ForTIR elements. The so-called light finger ForTIR elements use the apron to project part of the low beam onto the road. These are particularly flat projection modules that are just 13 millimeters high and also serve as design elements in the main headlights.
The front headlamp’s light design, typical of Volvo, has the characteristic Thor’s Hammer shape. This design element is formed via the light guides and thick wall optics in front of it.
ZKW equips both the Volvo C40 and XC40 models with premium LED headlights, using the same headlight module as a basis.