BMW shows car covered with E Ink to show changing patterns
BMW is demonstrating a concept version of its BMW iX at CES that is coated with E Ink so that patterns can be changed at the touch of a button. The manufacturer also showed a concept with a 32:9 screen for rear-seat passengers.
The E Ink displays the patterns in black, white and gray on the car. According to the German manufacturer, the use of this technology not only allows for a beautiful appearance, but also has an actual use. A dark display at lower temperatures makes the car absorb more heat from the sun, and a light display on a sunny day makes it less warm in the car. This can be beneficial to the efficiency of the electric vehicle. However, according to the automaker, there are no plans yet to make the technology available to consumers.
The E Ink technology works because the ink coating placed on the surface of the car contains millions of microcapsules. Each capsule contains white pigments if they are negatively charged and black pigments if they are positively charged. Depending on the electric field, the pigments display black or white colors, which means that patterns on the car can change. The same technology is used for e-readers to display the letters on the screen. Since this requires little energy, an e-reader can usually last for weeks without having to be charged.
Theater Screen
BMW also showed a 31” Theater Screen at CES with 8k resolution and built-in Amazon Fire TV functionality for use in ‘future’ cars. The screen has a 32:9 aspect ratio and includes Bowers & Wilkins surround sound.
The Theater Screen is automatically folded down from the ceiling when ‘Theatre Mode’ is switched on, BMW says. The sunshades on the car windows close when the TV is brought out. Riders can stream Amazon movies and series with the screen installation in the back seat. The screen has an 8k resolution, although Amazon’s streaming platform currently supports a maximum of 4K quality.
The content can be streamed via 5G, but it is also possible to download films and series in advance. The TV has 128GB of storage memory for this. The screen can be operated by touching it directly or via control panels on the door handles.
Although it is currently still a concept, BMW says it does want to make the Theater Screen available in future models. More information, such as the purchase price and which car models are supported, is not known.