A truck fleet fitted with xenon lighting

Xenon lighting for trucks: 17 vehicles safer on the road

Before 2014, xenon lighting was on the investment agenda at van der Heijden Transport B.V. The goal: give every truck super-bright xenon light. That makes drivers around 40% safer. Drivers also tire less quickly, because xenon light is far easier on the eyes than standard halogen lighting. It lets them give their customers even more certainty that the goods arrive safe and sound.

Benefits for businesses:

• Up to 40% safer
• Fuel saving
• Up to 10 times longer lifespan: fewer failed bulbs and lower maintenance costs
• Less driver fatigue
• A classier look and added value for the truck
• Tax-deductible

Pilot Pro Line 24V

The 24V xenon kits from the Pilot Pro Line series were the perfect answer for van der Heijden, a haulage company in Wahlwiller-Wittem in South Limburg. The xenon bulbs last up to 10 times longer than standard lighting, which is good news for the mechanics, who replace bulbs less often, and safer too.

The Pilot 24V xenon kits start at €164 excl. VAT, including a 2-year warranty.

Haulage companies and fleet managers

Want to fit your own haulage company or fleet with xenon lighting? Request a quote now. You can also outsource the fitting to us. Our installer can fit the xenon kits on site for a friendly surcharge.

More info about xenon? Read more about truck xenon lighting. Electricians went for xenon too: read why electricians fitted their vans with xenon.

What is different about xenon in a truck?

The biggest difference from a passenger car is the vehicle voltage. A car runs on a 12 volt system, most trucks and many buses on 24 volt. A xenon kit consists of a bulb and a ballast. The ballast converts the vehicle's voltage into the high ignition voltage the bulb needs, then keeps the current stable. So that ballast has to suit your vehicle's voltage. That is why there are separate 24V kits, such as the Pilot Pro Line 24V that van der Heijden used.

When ordering, always check three things:

• The vehicle voltage: 12V or 24V.
• The fitting of the headlight. You will find it on the old bulb or in the owner's manual.
• Bulb monitoring: if the vehicle checks that the bulbs are working, you need a kit with a CAN-bus module to prevent warning messages.

If you are unsure about any of these, get in touch before ordering a whole fleet's worth.

Converting a fleet to xenon: how to go about it

For a single car, you just order a kit. For a fleet, it pays to plan the project:

1. Take stock of the fleet. Make a list per make, type and year of manufacture, with the fitting and voltage for each vehicle. A fleet often has only a handful of different fittings.
2. Test one vehicle first. Fit the kit in one truck, drive it for a few days and check for warning messages and a correct beam pattern.
3. Plan the installation. Convert the trucks when they are standing still anyway, or have an installer come to your site.
4. Align the headlights. A properly aligned beam stops you dazzling oncoming traffic. After fitting, have the beam aligned and check that the vehicles still meet the APK (the Dutch roadworthiness test) requirements; if in doubt, ask the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) or your inspector.
5. Stock up on spares. Keep a few bulbs and a ballast on the shelf so a truck can get back on the road quickly after a failure.

Maintenance and lifespan of xenon in practice

One of the biggest advantages for a fleet is that bulbs need replacing less often. Even so, xenon needs a little attention:

• Replace bulbs in pairs. A new xenon bulb next to an old one can give a slightly different colour. Replacing in pairs keeps the beam consistent.
• Check the ballast mounting. Everything vibrates more in a truck than in a car. A well-secured ballast lasts longer.
• Keep the headlight dry. During servicing, check that the headlight seal is still good. Moisture causes condensation and can damage the connections.
• Allow for warm-up time. A xenon bulb ignites instantly, but takes the first few seconds to reach full brightness. That is normal.

For comparison: the current H7 xenon bulb Hilox Evolution II Black has a rated lifespan of 3,600 hours, is 35W and gives 4,200 lumens per bulb. The Hilox Evolution II Black kits come with a 2-year warranty on bulbs and ballasts. Please note: according to the product information, these kits have no ECE approval or E-mark and are not intended for public roads, but for the track and private grounds.