Matrix (Glare Free) headlights - inner workings

[chillaban]

Interesing. But it still begs the question as to why Ford would put these headlights into the vehicles, with the extra costs associated with that, without a plan or intention to activate them?

well they are activated in Canada which follows the UN-ECE version. Plus, just like Tesla, it turns out that these matrix capable LED projectors are all around superior in brightness and configuring of beam pattern. Ford may have decided for a combination of those reasons it made sense to just eat that cost.

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[vandy1981]

As a former automotive engineer: Completely agreed here. The NHTSA FMVSS 108 rules are corresponding to a brand new SAE (American) standard for glare-free headlights. The existing EU / UN-ECE legislation is completely different even though conceptually it sounds like the same thing

Is there anything in particular with FMVSS 108 that makes it better for the USA? When the matrix headlight law was passed I just assumed they would just adopt the EU regulations.

I activated the matrix function in my Lightning and it was the best quality of lighting I have ever experienced, especially on back roads. Our Rivian and Jaguar headlights look like trash in comparison. Fittingly, the Jaguar has matrix capability but there's no easy way to activate it.

 

[chillaban]

Is there anything in particular with FMVSS 108 that makes it better for the USA? When the matrix headlight law was passed I just assumed they would just adopt the EU regulations.

I activated the matrix function in my Lightning and it was the best quality of lighting I have ever experienced, especially on back roads. Our Rivian and Jaguar headlights look like trash in comparison. Fittingly, the Jaguar has matrix capability but there's no easy way to activate it.

Personally: no I don’t think it’s “better”. It’s just different. It’s almost never the case that US and EU regulations are the same, I didn’t expect headlights to be any different.

Like if you’ve been watching some of the recalls lately, GM had a glare recall that literally is fixed by a translucent sticker applied to the housing. Tesla had to do a software recall over the size of the BRAKE icon. It really is quite an effort to make sure a complex system complies with these rules and even if you’re doing things in good faith, it can still result in a recall which costs money and reputation.

 

[carys98]

Is there anything in particular with FMVSS 108 that makes it better for the USA? When the matrix headlight law was passed I just assumed they would just adopt the EU regulations.

I activated the matrix function in my Lightning and it was the best quality of lighting I have ever experienced, especially on back roads. Our Rivian and Jaguar headlights look like trash in comparison. Fittingly, the Jaguar has matrix capability but there's no easy way to activate it.

Having spent a career in telecom I have found that when US and EU regulations are different the EU is almost always technically superior. US regulations tend to be based on maximizing corporate profits and EU tends to focus on the consumer.

 

[Rickgk]

Is there anything in particular with FMVSS 108 that makes it better for the USA? When the matrix headlight law was passed I just assumed they would just adopt the EU regulations.

I activated the matrix function in my Lightning and it was the best quality of lighting I have ever experienced, especially on back roads. Our Rivian and Jaguar headlights look like trash in comparison. Fittingly, the Jaguar has matrix capability but there's no easy way to activate it.

How did you activate the matrix function?

 

[duncanmaio]

How did you activate the matrix function?

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/f150-lightning-forscan-thread.11406/

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