Ever wished you could turn your black car white on a sweltering day? The chameleonic BMW iX Flow—the world’s first color-changing vehicle, albeit still a prototype—is wrapped in “E ink,” a 12-volt electronic coating that works something like a Kindle display and takes little energy to sustain, even in broad daylight. The flexible material was created in collaboration with a Taiwanese company of the same name. Though it’s only been made in grayscale so far (color is in the works), the potential is endless: energy savings amid an increasingly hot climate, of course, but also advertising and informational displays. And the fun factor is a huge selling point. “Aesthetics can’t be underestimated,” says BMW research engineer Stella Clarke.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Why Cell Phone Reception Is Getting Worse
- The Dirty Secrets of Alternative Plastics
- Israeli Family Celebrates Release of Hostage Grandmother
- We Should Get Paid for Our Online Data: Column
- The COP28 Outcomes Business Leaders Are Watching For
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023
- The Top 100 Photos of 2023
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time