Exhaust Innovation For Future Sports Cars, There's Hidden Lidar Behind The Front Glass

JAKARTA - Lidar has an important role in the development of autonomous cars. Autonomous cars require accurate environmental maps to be able to move safely and effectively.

Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging (Light Detection and Distance Measurement). Lidar is a technology that uses laser beams to measure distance and create a map of the surrounding environment.

The way lidar works is similar to radar, but uses laser light instead of radio waves. The laser beam is fired into the surrounding environment, then the reflection of the light is measured to determine the distance of the object. With the distance data from many dots, lidar can create a detailed and accurate 3D map.

Well, at the 2024 China Auto Show exhibition, Hesai Technology, a leading lidar producer from Shanghai, has introduced the ET25. This lidar is unique because its position is behind the windshield, not outside the car as usual.

But specifically for this lidar, Hesai targets ET25 for sports cars because conventional lidar placed outside the car can interfere with aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency. In addition, external lidar reduces car aesthetics and blocks wiper work when it rains.

As the name implies, as reported by CarnewsChina, May 2, ET25 has a very thin height, only 25 mm. Although hidden, its capabilities are not kidding. ET25 has a detection range of up to 250 meters and supports self-driving technology L2+ and L3.

Of course there are concerns that the lidar signal will weaken or be blocked by glass. To overcome this, Hesai collaborated with Fuyao Group, a well-known car glass manufacturer. The result? The windshield is specifically designed for ET25, so the lidar signal remains strong. The detection range has indeed slightly decreased to 225 meters, but its function remains optimal.

Lidar Placement In Car Manufacturers

Currently, several car manufacturers have different approaches to liquid placement. Nio put it on the windshield, while Li Auto put it next to the front light. Each has advantages and disadvantages in terms of design and resilience.

ET25 is planned to start mass production in the second quarter of 2025. Hesai is optimistic that this technology is in demand by sports car manufacturers because it does not interfere with design and aerodynamics. Hesai itself has become a supplier of lidar for well-known car manufacturers such as Great Wall Motor, Leapmotor, Li Auto, Lotus, HiPhi, and Xiaomi.

With a sales target of 2 million lidar units by the end of 2025, Hesai ET25 is an interesting breakthrough that might change the face of the future sports car.