HID - Xenon lights have been used in vehicle headlight applications for over 10 years. They provide brighter lighting at a lower power consumption than Halogen lights.
First a high voltage is needed to create an arc such as ionised Xenon gas. The heat generated by the arc vapourises the metallic salts inside the bulb. This vapourisation process can take about 4 seconds. The voltage needed to start this process varries from bulb to bulb with examples at 6,000 and 23,000 volts.
An inverter is used to maintain the correct operating voltage. At this point a typical light will be using 35 Watts of power. However the light output is 3 times that of traditional 55 - 60 Watt Halogen wire filament bulbs.
This light produced is at a shorter wavelength than the more yellow light prodced by halogen bulbs. In vehicle use this, gives a much sharper and deeper view into the road which helps in poor weather conditions.
The following table provides comparison between a Halogen and HID light.
| Halogen (H-1) 55W | Xenon HID (H-1) 35W | |
| Input Wattage (W) | 55 | 35 |
| Candela (cd) | 21,000 | 202,500 |
| Lumen (Lm) | 1,400 | 3,200 |
| Temperature (K) | 5,000 | 4,100 or 6,000 |
| Irradiation Color. | White | Pure White or White / Blue |
| Life Expectancy (hours) | 400 | 2,500 |
A Halogen bulb can produce 22 lumen (light output) per watt (electricity input) whereas a HID light can manage up to 60 lumen per watt. So HID lights can be 270% more efficient than Halogen. Using batteries for the same light output they’ll last 2.7 times longer.
So you can get very bright light, which is small, compact and has a decent run time.
Excluding HID lights, for long run times, and lower power consumption, LEDs or dim Halogens. For bright lights Halogen units will use much more power.