PARIS — Valeo and its partner in Japan, Ichikoh, have developed a new generation of LED front lighting systems that were unveiled as a world premiere on the Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle.

Valeo-Ichikoh engineers have designed what they say is a cost-effective LED-based headlamp, combining enhanced illumination with distinctive style. While the Nissan Leaf LED headlamp is cost- and energy-efficient, it delivers a high level of performance, with brighter light color on the road and a longer life span, according to the company.

The optical system provides multiple innovative front lighting solutions, according to Valeo. The collector and reflector are combined as a single thermoplastic part with no lens, giving it a more distinctive look than a conventional headlamp. With a flux on the road of more than 500 lumens, the wide beam offers a good range and high homogeneity. Thanks to its color temperature of 5500K, it has been ranked at the level of HID lamps during night test comparisons with different mass production headlamps, according to the company.

This low beam module is the first on the market with power consumption as low as 50W per vehicle, using only 2 LED per headlamp. The 2 LED-based design saves 30 percent more energy than the best 3 LED-based headlamps currently on the market (70W), Valeo said. Compared with other light sources, it saves up to 49 percent with Xenon systems (90W) and 62 percent with Halogen (130W). The benefit is also very high for conventional internal combustion engine vehicles with an average CO2 saving of 1g per km.

For more information about the Valeo Group, click here.