Ford, GE to Develop Arc Discharge Lights for 1990s Autos

General Electric and Ford have entered into an agreement to develop a new line of automotive lights using arc discharge systems to replace halogen filament lights in the early 1990s.

GE’s Lighting Group announced Thursday an agreement for the joint project with Ford’s Diversified Products Operations division.

GE Lighting, the leading supplier of lights for domestic auto makers and No. 2 worldwide behind Phillips, estimates the world market for the new lighting system could be $1 billion a year.

Arc discharge technology uses an electronically controlled arc, or spark, created between two electrodes as the light source, instead of today’s halogen filament.