It allows the exterior colors of the car to be changed at the touch of a button. At an event in Melbourne, BMW developer Stella Clarke told the Australian magazine “Drive” that this technology could go into series production this decade. However, a good three to five years of development would be necessary before that.
At CES 2022, BMW presented this special option for the first time with the iX Flow. The vehicle was able to change color at the push of a button – similar to a chameleon. The following year, the BMW iVision Dee followed, which can project up to 32 colors. But what exactly is behind this development?
The technology
The raw material comes from the American company E Ink, which initially developed this technology for electronic paper. Millions of microcapsules are embedded in the foils that are later attached to the car. Their diameter corresponds to that of a human hair. Each of these capsules contains negatively and positively charged pigments. An electric field stimulates the capsules and, depending on the setting, certain pigments accumulate on the surface of the microcapsules. In this way, many of these capsules produce the selected color tone on the surface of the body.
Clarke wants to bring this innovation into series production soon. “The dream is that you no longer have the traditional spray booths in a car factory, but that everything is covered with E Ink and every car can have any color,” says the engineer. However, conventional paintwork is still cheaper. However, only 20 watts of electricity would be needed for a complete color change process, Clarke admits to “Drive”.
Not only beautiful, but practical
On top of that, E-Ink technology could also have a practical use. On very hot and sunny days, it would be easy to turn a dark car into a white one so that the interior doesn’t heat up so much. Or the driver could flash his car in a crowded parking lot to make it easier to find. In terms of car sharing, Clarke emphasizes: “How good would it be to be able to see from the outside whether a car is free or not.”
But there is still a long way to go before it is ready for series production. The production process must be made suitable for mass production. The material must also meet industry requirements in terms of durability against UV radiation and temperature differences. This also applies to stone chips. So it will still be a while before a flashing outer skin makes it easier for us to find a car in a confusing parking lot.
I think it’s cool, maybe the streets will finally be more colorful again. This is unnecessary gimmicks that only distract.
In the picture gallery you can see the BMW i5 Flow Nostokana.
BMW unveiled the iX Flow at CES 2022, which can change color at the touch of a button. This technology is based on E Ink and could be ready for series production in three to five years. It offers not only aesthetic benefits, but also practical applications such as temperature regulation and better visibility in parking lots. However, the development still needs to meet industry requirements before it can be used on a mass scale.
