Imagine strolling past a car that shifts its color to match your outfit in real-time—a captivating concept recently featured in a CGI video of the Porsche Macan. While the video sparked excitement across social media, it’s important to note that this color-changing innovation remains purely conceptual for Porsche, brought to life through clever animation rather than tangible technology.
However, this vision isn’t entirely out of reach. Back in January 2023, BMW introduced its i Vision Dee a concept car that made waves by turning this futuristic idea into a working prototype. Using E Ink technology, BMW showcased a car capable of dynamic, customizable color changes. The i Vision Dee’s exterior is divided into 240 E Ink segments, each capable of displaying up to 32 colors, allowing for unprecedented personalization and patterns. They also used it in their i5 Flow. This not only represents a bold leap in automotive innovation but also highlights the versatile applications of E Ink technology.
What is E Ink Technology?
E Ink, or electronic ink, is a display technology designed to mimic the look of ink on paper. It works by using millions of microcapsules filled with electrically charged pigments suspended in a fluid. When an electric field is applied, the pigments migrate to the surface, creating visible text, images, or colors. Unlike conventional backlit displays, E Ink reflects ambient light, making it highly readable in bright sunlight and remarkably energy-efficient.
The standout feature of E Ink technology is its minimal power consumption. Energy is only needed to change the display, not to maintain it. This makes E Ink an ideal solution for applications where battery life, visibility, and low environmental impact are priorities.
While e-readers such as the Kindle popularized E Ink, its potential extends far beyond. It is also used in digital signage, transportation, wearable devices and even in smartphone cases.
Companies like E Ink Holdings (Taiwain) https://www.eink.com/ – who partnered up with BMW, E-PI (Germany) https://www.e-pi.com/ and Visionect (Slovenia) https://www.visionect.com/ are specialized in E Ink and e-paper technology.
Other technologies that bring color to life
E Ink technology operates at the cutting edge of display innovation, but it’s not the only player in this space. Technologies like OLED and MicroLED dominate when vivid color and responsiveness are priorities, offering vibrant displays and exceptional brightness. Meanwhile, electrochromic displays excel in applications requiring adjustable tint, such as smart windows, though they suffer from slower refresh rates. MEMS displays combine fast refresh rates with low power consumption but remain in developmental stages for widespread use.
As companies continue to experiment with color-changing paint and dynamic surfaces, E Ink’s role in creating energy-efficient, customizable solutions ensures its place at the forefront of innovation. While Porsche’s color-changing CGI video may have been fiction, BMW’s i Vision Dee is proof that reality is catching up with imagination.
Who knows? The next leap forward in E Ink could be right around the corner, powering the devices, vehicles, and interfaces of tomorrow. For now, it remains a captivating technology worth keeping an eye on.