CES 2020 ~ A Car That Can Change Body Color

CES 2022 ~ BMW’s Color Changing Concept Car

BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT © 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Traditionally CES, THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, is held each year in Las Vegas, Nevada. It typically hosts thousands of eager manufacturers, distributors and dealers looking to display the latest in electronic gadgets that may appear in your local stores throughout the year. Canceled last year due to Covid, it reappeared in a scaled down version at the LV Convention Center even though a vast number of exhibitors opted for some form of virtual exposure, or simply became no shows. Attendance was only 40,000 compared to previous years of up to 200,000. Perhaps the most interesting and innovative presentation was from BMW, the well-known automobile manufacturer. Yes, in recent years car manufacturers have found CES to be a novel way to test the waters and see what electronic gadgets and features people would like them to include in their future models. BMW is no exception to this trend. They displayed the BMQ iX Flow, a concept car that changes colors at the push of a button. Yes, it can change from white for hot days, to black on cold ones.

The body is laminated with an electrophoretic film containing microcapsules that are the diameter of a human hair. Each capsule contains differently charged white, black, or colored particles which become visible when an electronic field is applied. This creates what is known as an Electronic Paper Display, EPD. This could become a viable option allowing you to match the color of the car to your mood, or color coordinate with what you are wearing as well as affecting the climate in your car in an energy saving manor. I should mention that the iX series itself is presently available from BMW in other models including an electric version. The Flow is just a concept at this particular time. Could it become the wave of the future? Possibly! Graphic credits: The Gadgeteer & Google Images Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore