When you think of tech does the image of your windshield pop into your mind? Probably not, but it should. Auto-glass tech is the next big thing in motor vehicle design. Some of the new tech for auto glass is going to blow your mind, and you will definitely want to keep your eye out for these changes coming your way.
Auto Glass Does Not Get the Attention It Deserves
Auto glass is an important safety feature on every vehicle and not just for the obvious reasons. Every vehicle is designed to perform optimally when the auto glass is in good condition. Even a small crack or chip puts the safety of your auto glass at risk. Vehicle glass is not only responsible for protecting drivers and passengers from debris, and it is imperative to the design of the vehicle.
Glass that has been compromised or damaged needs to be addressed to maintain the safe operation of your vehicle. Glass.com reports that auto glass that has a crack of 12 inches or longer should be immediately replaced to maintain safe operation.
Auto glass plays an essential role in your vehicle’s design and moving forward your auto glass is also going to be an integral part of your vehicle’s tech package. Check out these tech advances that are going to change how you view your auto glass.
It Is Going to Be Stronger
Typical auto glass is made up of two pieces of glass that are laminated together. PVB (polyvinyl butyral) is sandwiched between the two layers of glass to give the windshield added strength and to prevent it from breaking into slivers of sharp glass upon impact. However, currently in research and development is a newer type of auto glass that is designed to be thinner yet stronger.
Both Gorilla Glass and Soda Lime Glass are purported to be up to seven times stronger and only a few millimeters thick. Gorilla Glass is already in use in some high-end vehicles like the half a million-dollar Ford GT, SLG is still in the development stages as of right now. Why is thinner, stronger glass better? First, auto manufacturers will be able to use more of it in their designs. Imagine a vehicle with a true 360 panoramic view of the world. Second, you can expect a significant increase in safety and durability.
About 30% of all insurance claims are filed because of damage to auto glass. As a matter of fact, damaged auto glass is the number one reason for filing an insurance claim. Thinner, stronger glass can help to reduce the number of claims, and ultimately be more affordable for the consumer.
No More Mirrors?
BMW just released a prototype vehicle that has zero mirrors. This vehicle has no side-view mirrors and no rear-view mirror. Instead of mirrors, cameras are mounted where the side mirrors were, and a camera is mounted on the rear windshield. Those cameras send images to an integrated display that is mounted where the rear-view mirror is traditionally mounted.
Mirrorless driving is something we are going to see more of in the future. The tech is available and is being used in high-end luxury vehicles right now, but it will trickle down to more affordable vehicles soon.
Upping Recycled Content
While auto-glass tech, is improving by leaps and bounds, there is still a great need to keep an eye on the environment. Moving forward, we are going to see a much higher “recycled content” level on auto glass. The goal for some manufacturers is to use up to 50% recycled content in their auto glass. Driving puts enough of a burden on the environment, so anything that can be done to reduce some of that burden is a good thing. Even the feds are making changes. In fact, about 80% of the asphalt removed from the highways is reused in roadways according to the Federal Highway Administration.
Other tech improvements that you will see on auto glass over the next few years include smart glass that adjusts to the light, like Transition lens on eyeglasses, auto glass that does not fog, and auto glass that you can control the level of tint on. There are some big tech changes for auto glass coming your way, keep your eyes open.
