How Does BMW iX Flow Work?

Do you remember those color-changing Hot Wheels vehicles? You could put them in water and they would change color until you dried them off. Now, one of the coolest inventions in automotive styling has a real-life application thanks to the BMW iX Flow.

Read our guide to how BMW iX Flow works, and prepare to be very, very impressed!

A Type of Pigment Found in e-Readers

When was the last time you read a digital book? Some of those eReader screens have a type of pigment in them that turn off and on, into black and white hues, for sharp digital images to reduce eye strain when reading.

Magnify that technology a millionfold, and you’ve got the surface of a BMW iX sports activity vehicle (SAV) embedded with this new kind of skin.

Special Pigments in a Custom Wrap

You control the pigment found in your BMW iX Flow, either black or white for now, embedded in a special wrap that goes all over the body of the new vehicle. When stimulated by electrical signals, the technology brings different color pigments to the surface, changing the hue of the BMW iX. 

The surface coating has millions of microcapsules, each with a diameter equivalent to the thickness of a single human hair, to make this happen. When the pigment is negatively charged, it turns white. With a positive charge, it turns black. 

Precision Fittings of ePaper

Much like a soccer ball has many precise segments sewn together to make unique patterns on the surface, BMW iX Flow occurs with precisely fitted segments of ePaper. The process uses generative design and laser-cutting for each segment before connecting the embedded power supply through very tiny electrical circuits. Then, the wrap is heat-sealed for permanency.

Practical Applications of a Color-Changing BMW

The exterior color change can actually help the overall longevity and efficiency of the BMW iX. The white surface can reflect sunlight to reduce the heat absorbed by the cabin. In cooler weather, you can change the hue to black to make the cabin warmer by absorbing more thermal energy from the sun. You reduce the air conditioner’s power requirements, which saves on the power consumed by the vehicle’s electrical system. You’ll increase the range of your EV as well as the overall battery life, giving you more out of your investment. 

The best part? The color-changing BMW uses no energy to maintain the current color. The only electricity used is when you change the colors from one shade to the other as you drive through San Gabriel or Pasadena.

Test Drive a New BMW iX in Alhambra 

Ready for an all-electric future? Contact us or call 626-570-8444 to schedule a test drive with our team. We think you’ll be astounded by the high-tech BMW iX SAV.