Manufacturers and marketers understand the importance of color choice in the automotive industry. Toyota is developing a technology inspired by BMW’s innovations, aiming to give their vehicles color-changing abilities similar to chameleons, using heat and light.
According to the patent, vehicles leaving the factory would have a single color of paint, with the color-changing material applied in the chosen default hue. Upon arrival at a dealership or Toyota facility equipped with the necessary tools, the color could then be modified as desired. The process might involve heating the paint with large panels or a movable panel, followed by the application of specific wavelengths of light. This process enables the paint molecules to reflect different wavelengths of light, resulting in various visible colors, similar to the effect seen on Lexus models. Temperature sensors on the vehicle would assist in ensuring the correct conditions for color changes.
At the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, BMW showcased a color-changing concept called E Ink on its iX electric SUV, based on the electrophoretic technology found in e-readers. This technology involves wrapping the vehicle, with an electric current causing pigments to pass through microcapsules, altering the exterior color, controllable via a mobile app.
