Headlights were first introduced in vehicles in the late 1880’s. The first generation of headlamps were acetylene or oil based, and they came as a response to the high number of accidents that occurred at night. In 1898, the first wave of electric lamps debuted, but proved to be a failure due to the short life of the filaments and lack of power to keep them on. However, in 1912, Cadillac introduced the first good enough electric lighting system, which served as the cornerstone of modern day headlights.

Today, all vehicles that operate in public roads are required to have headlights. Modern lamps generate light from different sources like tungsten, tungsten-halogen, HID (high intensity discharge) and LED (light emitting diode). Although LED technology has been around for some time (christmas lights, anyone?), it wasn’t until 2007 that their performance was on par with other technologies. The first production vehicle with factory installed LED headlamps was the 2007 Lexus LS 600h, one of Lexus flagship cars.

Seven years later, however, LED technology is still not widely adopted in the automotive industry. LED lights have proven to be brighter and more energy efficient than other lamps, but they are still cost prohibitive for non-luxury cars. That’s why in 2015, Ford is taking a leap forward and bringing that very technology to their 6,000 lb workhorse, the new 2015 Ford F-150. Let’s take a look at the reasons behind this decision.

While redesigning the F-150, Ford engineers realized traditional headlights have to be replaced very often, so it was a natural choice to go with the long lasting LED option. LED lights also offer superior light quality and range, which translates into better visibility. Ford is the first manufacturer to bring LED lights to a truck, leaving competitors (and halogen lamps) in the dust.

Remember that along with airbags and seat belts, headlights play an important role in your vehicle’s safety. Statistically, most auto accidents happen at night, and better headlamps can significantly improve your chances of avoiding one. Stop by your local dealership so you can see the difference for yourself, as other high end vehicles are already using LED technology.

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

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