What is the difference between LED lights and HID lights?

While most car enthusiasts focus primarily on improving performance and speed, another aspect that gets left behind is improving the aesthetics of your car, and vehicle lighting does just that. However, with the variety of options available to choose from, it can become quite the predicament to select the one that suits you best. 

The two most popular types of lights are LED and HID, both offering their own set of benefits and drawbacks. Before coming to a conclusion, it is essential to understand the difference between the two types thoroughly. In this article, Turborevs explains the difference between LED lights and HID lights.

LED Lights

Commonly found in high-end vehicles, LED lights are slowly making their way towards non-luxury vehicles in the form of car modifications. The lights function through negative electrons that run against holes in a semiconductor, resulting in a light emitting diode (LED), which releases a photon. This process occurs thousands of times a second, which culminates in the form of an LED light.

LEDs are slightly brighter than HID lights, as they produce upto 9,000 lumens. Far brighter than regular halogen lights, these lights can be a worthwhile investment for those that regularly drive at night.

Moreover, LED lights are highly efficient and compact, providing light as soon as they are turned on, a feature the HID lights do not have. One drawback of LEDs is that they can heat up the surrounding parts of your car, meaning a separate cooling unit will be required.

HID Lights

HID lights are generally used where high intensity lights are required. These lights emit a high intensity discharge (HID), similar to neon lights but with xenon gas. When you turn on an HID light, an electrical current passes through a tube with electrodes on both ends. This current forces the xenon and halide salts to react with one another, resulting in xenon ionising. This process keeps on recurring, with the power being supplied by the car’s battery. 

HID lights can cover a vast area and are highly efficient, however, they come with a slight disadvantage. HID lights turn on with a slight delay, as the process can take some time to reach its optimum level. This can become a problem in case of an emergency..

HID lights burn at around 8000 lumens, slightly lower than LED lights. They are also energy efficient and give off a bluish white light, perfect for illuminating a vast area.

The Bottom Line

Compared to regular halogen lighting, both LED and HID lights are far superior and efficient in terms of intensity and efficiency. However, between these two types, LEDs offer a much higher intensity and lasts longer, although they do tend to be slightly more expensive. On the other hand, HID lights are more energy efficient and can illuminate a vast area quite easily, perfect for driving at night or in rural areas. Nevertheless, choosing between the two boils down to your personal needs and preferences.

Find some of the best vehicle lighting at Turborevs and take your vehicle’s performance to the next level.