Volkswagen Passat '97, User Manual

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55
Electrics
Gas discharge lamp
In the case of gas discharge lamps, light is
generated by an electric arc between two
electrodes in a pea-sized gas-filled glass tube.
The lamp emits light with high green and blue
components due to the composition of the gas
in the lamp tube.
This is the external distinguishing feature of
gas discharge technology.
The advantages of this new headlight genera-
tion over conventional lamp technology are as
follows:
l Up to three times higher luminous efficiency,
same power consumption.
A 35W gas discharge lamp is sufficient to
provide twice the illumination of a 55W lamp.
l The useful life of approx. 2500 hours is several
times that of the halogen lamp.
l The special design of the reflector, aperture
and lens provides a much longer range
and a wider near-field scatter zone. This
illuminates the roadside better, thus
reducing driver eye fatigue.
l Fog lights are not needed due to the
wide near-field beam.
Electrode
SSP 192/121
Electrode
Electric arc
Glass tubewith
gas filling