The BMW iX Flow is the newest concept car from the German manufacturer, and it contains an interesting innovation if it is brought to market. The iX Flow, which was unveiled at CES 2022, has a body exterior made of E Ink, which is the substance used in E-readers, that allows the body of the car to act like a screen of sorts.
What differentiates E Ink from a traditional screen is its durable build, color limitations, and versatility in design. E Ink can be used simply and is much more weather-resistant, meaning it can hypothetically be used on the exterior of a vehicle. While BMW only showed the use of this vehicle in customizing parts of the vehicle between white and black, it plans on looking into more colors in the future. However, even if the vehicle launches with only white and black customization options, individuals can still add features such as stripes, patterns, or even words to the exterior of their car on the fly.
The interior of the vehicle features an advanced 8K screen and LEDs inbuilt to the frame to allow for interior expression as well as exterior.
Image Credit: BMW
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Smart Car Skins
- Using E Ink on car exteriors provides a durable, versatile canvas for customizable designs
- Digital Interiors
- Incorporating advanced screens and LEDs into car interiors enables personalized expressions beyond just the exterior
- Responsive Vehicle Design
- The ability to change a car's color or design on-demand opens up new possibilities for self expression and branding opportunities
Industries Being Reshaped
- Automotive
- The automotive industry can leverage E Ink and advanced screen technology to create more customizable and responsive vehicle designs
- Advertising
- With customizable car designs, advertisers can utilize these new technologies for unique, eye-catching campaigns
- Entertainment
- These smart car skins and digital interiors offer new opportunities for immersive experiences and personalization for in-car entertainment
