BMW is developing new technology that allows for color changes of the car through an app. The technology, called E Ink, was first introduced in the iX Flow concept car in 2022. A year later, a color application of the technology was also demonstrated in the i Vision Dee concept, although initially, the plan is to produce only a black-and-white version. Now, the engineer behind it is declaring that the product is close to market readiness: "You can expect this technology to reach customer vehicles by 2027."
The technology uses a material similar to that used in digital readers like Kindle and enables immediate color changes by passing an electric current between small contact points distributed across the car's body. According to Dr. Stella Clark in an interview with the Australian site Drive, the energy consumption of the system is minimal, equivalent to operating an LED light or even an interior light strip in the car.
The practical benefits of color-changing include the ability to adjust the car's color according to sunlight conditions, allowing the car to be white and reduce heat absorption by the body during parking. Another possible application is marking the car for easier location in parking lots. "Painting" available cars in cases of shared vehicle fleets, taxis indicating their availability from a distance, and even emergency vehicles like ambulances that could "flash" across the entire body rather than just using a light bar.
However, the path to implementation and market availability is still distant. Dr. Clark also refers to technical, legal, and economic aspects of the technology. On the technical side, the testing process of the color is not yet complete, especially in terms of UV resistance and extreme temperatures, as well as the durability of components against minor impacts.
Legally, regulatory and local law adjustments will be needed to allow a car that changes color. In Israel, for example, while the car's color is recorded in the vehicle registration, there is no issue with changing it, but it must be updated with the Transport Ministry.
She also points out potential issues of confusion among other drivers that might arise when a car changes colors while driving (although currently, the option to change color is limited to when the car is stationary). Economically, BMW is also aware that the high cost of the product will initially make it available only as an option, and only in more expensive vehicles. It is also unclear how much it will increase the cost of body repair after an accident or a simple parking dent.
The idea originated, she says, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when she began developing it in her attic and presented it in a Zoom call to the manufacturer's executives. They were enthusiastic about the idea and approved an expedited development process, which led to the first concept car in 2022.
In an interview, Dr. Clark said that according to BMW's estimate, "the availability of the product to customers may occur within a 3 to 5-year range," meaning that by 2027, it might transition from a technological idea being tested in labs to a component that we could see in showrooms and on the roads. What will be the customer response to such technology? Only time will tell.