Car Bulbs for EVs - Efficiency, Brightness, Compatibility

Upgrading your car light bulbs can improve your visibility while reducing your power consumption — and that’s especially important if you’re driving an electric vehicle, where efficiency and battery life go hand in hand. The right bulbs let you see better on the road without putting extra strain on your power system or shortening your driving range.

Halogen bulbs

Does your EV use halogen bulbs? Many models still do. These car light bulbs work with a thin tungsten filament inside the bulb. Electricity heats the filament until it glows and produces light. The bulb also contains halogen gas, which helps the filament last longer and reduces the dark “blackening” that can build up on the glass.

Manufacturers sometimes choose halogen car light bulbs because they cost less to produce and replace than newer lighting types. When one burns out, you can often swap it yourself by replacing it with the same bulb type and size — just match the exact spec your manual lists for your car light bulbs.

When you want improved visibility while staying road-legal, the Osram H1 Cool Blue Intense Halogen 44W Bulbs (Twin Pack) can be a good choice. It gives you a clean 4200K colour temperature that closely matches factory xenon HID lighting. With these bulbs, you get up to 20% more light than standard halogen lamps. They also meet strict European quality standards, ensuring compatibility with your EV manufacturer’s specifications.

LED bulbs

LED car light bulbs use light-emitting diodes that let electricity go through semiconductors, giving a brighter, whiter light than halogen bulbs that last significantly longer. This also helps them generate light more efficiently without wasting energy and drawing too much power from your car battery, so they reduce overall electrical load.

While they’re energy-saving, they don’t compromise on illumination. In fact, they can give you 150 to 300% more usable light than standard halogen bulbs while maintaining a focused beam pattern.

Although they cost more upfront, LED bulbs will often remain in service for the life of your vehicle, since they’re built to last for many years.

That said, UK regulations currently restrict the use of LED bulbs as direct replacements for halogen headlights unless they were installed by the vehicle manufacturer. However, you can still install LED car light bulbs for interior lighting and off-road use.

If you’re upgrading dipped or main beams where permitted, H7 6000LM LED bulbs deliver a crisp 6000K white light with up to 300% more usable brightness. Built-in CANBUS support helps minimise dashboard error messages, while the compact plug-and-play design suits many electric vehicles looking for a modern lighting upgrade.

HID Xenon bulbs

Instead of using a filament, HID (Xenon) bulbs generate light through an electric arc inside the bulb. This allows xenon gas to fill the chamber, giving you a noticeably brighter and more intense light than halogen lighting.

Although HID car light bulbs cost more than halogen or LED options, you’ll benefit from their strong performance. In many cases, they produce around 300 to 450% more light than a standard halogen bulb and are available in several colour temperatures. For consistent output and reliability, it’s best to replace HID bulbs every three years and always change them in pairs, even if one bulb still appears to work.

You’ll need additional components when installing HID bulbs, so you can’t swap them directly for halogen units.  And similar to LED headlights, UK road regulations only allow you to fit HID bulbs on vehicles where the manufacturer originally fitted them.

 If you’re upgrading an existing HID system, Premium G5 Super Quality 50W HID Xenon Bulbs deliver 3800 lumens with fast-start technology for dependable performance. With a lifespan of up to 5,000 hours, UV-resistant quartz glass, and robust metal bases, these bulbs combine durability with strong light output. Each pair includes pre-attached wiring and rubber grommets, as well as secure connectors, making them suitable for most aftermarket HID conversion kits across common H-type fittings such as H1 and H4.

Ready to get the best light bulbs for your EV?

You can buy car light bulbs with confidence here at HIDS DIRECT with our secure checkout and a 30-day no-hassle return policy. You can even track your delivery in the UK from £1.90, and you get free next-day delivery when your order exceeds £100.