HID Xenon Headlight

Xenon headlights are a kind of HID (high-intensity discharge) light. HID headlights work by sending a high-voltage electric current between two tungsten electrodes housed inside a quartz tube filled with xenon gas. This process allows them to emit bright, far-reaching white light at around 6000K with less heat than their halogen alternatives. These headlights require far more power than halogens when first turned on, but they use much less to maintain their brightness once fully lit. Though helpful for the one behind the wheel, the added brightness of xenon bulbs can create an abundance of glare, effectively “blinding” other drivers. HID lights also require special retrofitting to be used in cars previously wired for halogen lights, and they need an additional component to operate (a ballast) which can create a potential point of failure and drain energy. Not to mention, xenon lights cost considerably more than halogen headlights.

PROS:

Brighter, whiter light than halogen headlights

More efficient than halogen

CONS:

Cost more than halogen headlights

Can cause harsh glare

May require special retrofitting and additional components