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Do LED lights use less electricity in cars?

I left my headlights on overnight in my car and drained the battery last week. My wife says we should switch to LEDs because if it happens again, the LEDs drain less electricity. Do LED lights use less electricity in cars?

avatar
Bellina Gaskey · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question! LED headlights are up to 85% more energy efficient than incandescent lights.
Not to take your wife’s side, but LED headlights might be useful in your case. With a normal incandescent headlight, the headlight generates a lot of heat, losing a lot of power. Because LED lights don’t generate that heat they are much more energy efficient.
Leaving your lights on all night will still drain your battery even if you have LED lights though.
You may not have as many options in incandescent bulbs. LED lights are cheaper and easier to manufacture, and the fact that their brighter (which, in headlights is obviously better) is leading more manufacturers to scrap incandescent and go LED. LED lights are also cheaper to run because of their energy efficiency.
This energy efficiency will come in extra handy if you buy an electric car. Since more states are aiming to be gas car free by 2030, electric cars are in a lot of people’s futures.
LED headlights are the perfect headlight option for an
electric car
, and with the growth of electric vehicles, LED might be a good choice for you.
Whether you go incandescent or LED, you always need insurance.
Jerry
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