While CES 2022 saw adrop in attendance of more than 70%, that didn’t stop some automakers from showing off futuristic technology.
At the show, BMW unveiled the iX Flow concept with e-ink that allows the driver to change the car’s exterior design. Now, while e-ink seems like a fad limited to e-readers, failed magazine cover concepts, and ambitious watches, Frank Weber, member of the board of management at BMW AG, says digital experiences will one day extend beyond displays. He says the future will be more of a blend of the real and virtual realms and the iX Flow is an attempt to bring the car body to life.
The e-ink is part of a custom body wrap that was tailored to BMW’s electric Sports Activity Vehicle for the sake of the demonstration. E-ink is made up of millions of dots or micro-capsules about the diameter of a human hair. Each capsule holds negatively-charged white pigments and positively-charged black pigments, and electrical signals bring different colors to the surface. It’s called electrophoretic technology, and it’s quite efficient as you only need electricity to change the design; it isn’t constant.
According to BMW, the technology could change a vehicle’s appearance for a driver’s aesthetic preferences and environmental conditions or even functional requirements. For example, reflecting the sun on a hot day or absorbing thermal energy in the bitter cold.
The color of a car is already seen as an extension of the owner’s personality, and this concept is a look at a further personalized future.
