Last Updated on August 23, 2022 by
Electric Window Tinting
Electric window tinting for cars is a relatively new and disruptive technological advancement sometimes referred to as “smart tint” or “smart glass“.
People have been tinting their car windows since the 60s, but the technology then was crude. It turned the interior of your car into a sweltering greenhouse and the thin dye bubbled and peeled in only a few months of the film being applied to a car window.
But we’ve come a long way since those days, and the technology behind tinting is a lot more advanced.
In this article, we’ll cover what electric window tinting is, how it’s done, what the costs are, and the benefits of having automotive smart tint for your car.
What is Electric Window Tinting?
Electric window tints were initially designed for home usage to block out sunlight according to the user’s desires using tint electricity.
It has since gained popularity for car owners who want to install a form of smart glass for their vehicles.
One of the key features that attract people to electric window smart tint is being able to adjust the level of light that penetrates the glass. The film is completely adjustable and can typically be changed from between 5% and 70% VLT opacity.
This is advantageous over older versions of window tinting because it gives the driver the ability to drive at night while still being able to see the road.
How Does Electric Window Tinting Work
Previously, window tints were made of dyed glass or ceramic films.
Nowadays, electric tints are made by laminating the glass between multiple layers of polymer. The polymer is lined with heavy particles that change their properties when exposed to an electric current.
When a current is run, the particles in the polymer line up together, which darkens the glass by blocking out the light. The particles are in a stable state, so they will remain in place until another current makes them shift again.
When the glass is given a negative charge, the particles repel one another and the film becomes clear again, letting more visible light through.
Can you see out of smart tint windows?
Smart window tint is completely adjustable. Users can change the opacity of a window from anywhere between 5% and 70% opacity.
Another advantage of the tint is that even at high opacity, these windows are designed to let you see out and still stop light from getting in.
At night, if you dial the darkness up to the maximum, you would just be able to see but it would be pitch black for anyone looking in. During the day, you would block out most of the external light but still be able to see outside clearly, as if you were wearing sunglasses.
How is an electric window tint system installed?
Previously, window tints were made of dyed glass or ceramic self-adhesive window film.Nowadays, electric tint is made by laminating the glass between multiple layers of polymer film.
The self-adhesive polymer installation is lined with heavy particles that change their properties when exposed to an electric current.
When a current is run, the particles in the polymer line up together, which darkens the glass by blocking out the light. The particles are in a stable state, so they will remain in place until another current makes them shift again.
When the glass is given a negative charge, the particles repel one another and the film becomes clear again, letting more visible light through.
Costs of Electric Auto Window Tinting
The cost of getting an electric window tint can change depending on the car dealership you go to. If you’re lucky enough to find a technician who can do the job, you can expect a full set of car windows to cost you anywhere from $350 to $900.
Some installation companies charge per square foot, but it is more common to be charged per window. There are also additional costs for installing custom trim.
The challenge that you’re going to face is finding a technician who specializes in electric auto window tinting. Window tinting your car is very common, but electric tints are very new and require specialized equipment to apply.
Relative to standard window tint, which costs $100 to $400 for a full window set, smart or digital tint is indeed more expensive.
Examples of Cars with Electric Window Tinting
Is their adjustable window tint or “smart tint”?
Yes. Electronic window tinting or so-called adjustable or digital tint is made of a lattice of heavy magnetic particles that react to electrical currents. While the technology for smart tint has existed for many years, only recently has it been growing in popularity and applications. Electric auto tints were initially designed for home usage to block out sunlight according to the homeowner’s desires. It has since gained popularity with car owners.
There are a few different window films categories, with adjustable car window film being the most ‘advanced’ in terms of adjustable light and the ability to customize the privacy level of your cars tint percentage.
This technology does exist and is available for purchase at specialist style auto shops. The automotive smart glass is able to range in the allowable VLT based on the drivers choice. You can adjust the tint darkness from no tint, to mild tint, to darker using the electric controller. Smart tint can be adjusted at the click of a button to change the amount of light that penetrates the glass.
The smart tint can typically be changed from anywhere between 5% and 70% of Visible Light Transmitted (VLT).
As you decrease the VLT the window get increasingly darker. Basically, yes it is switchable and the material used to create the film is the power behind the technology.
For vehicle owners, adjustable smart tint is advantageous over older versions of window tinting because it gives the driver the ability to see better whilst driving at night.
Can the car windows roll up and down with electric window tint
If you watch the video above, you’ll see examples of the electric window tint being adjusted, then the window is lowered down. The controller then adjusts the settings to darker the tint, while the window is about half way down.
Finally the tint is darkened all the way, and then the window is lowered to it’s fully bottom position. So yes, you can roll the car windows up or down with electric window tint, they are not fixed in place.
Benefits of Auto Electric Window Tinting
There is a list of benefits to giving your car windows an electric tint. Many of these benefits apply to any window tint, but an electric tint will be significantly better.
Light Control of Film
Being able to control the amount of light that comes in through your windows is surprisingly useful. Where older window tints have a permanent, set opacity and visible light transmission, electric automobile tints are completely adjustable.
This means that you can block out 50% of the bright light during the day, and lower it to allow more light in, when driving at night.
This makes it easier to drive in sunlight without becoming dangerous at night.
Protection
One of the biggest reasons people tint the windows on their car is for personal protection. The darker windows keep you, and any belongings you may have exposed, shielded from prying eyes.
Security experts have noted that cars with tinted windows are less likely to be broken into and less likely to be stolen.
Another good reason to get tinted windows is to protect your car’s interior from sun damage. You can increase the tint when parked in a non-shaded area to prevent fading or damage to your upholstery.
Saving Money
Tinting car windows dramatically lowers the temperature inside the car. By blocking out harsh light and UV rays, the climate inside the car remains cool and comfortable.
This means that you’ll be running your AC less often, using less fuel, and saving your battery life.
Health
It may seem far-fetched, but tinted windows are much better for the driver and passengers in the car than regular glass windows.
Prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays increases the chance of skin disease. There are also serious detrimental effects on your eyes from staring at UV light unprotected.
Tinting windows cut out a lot of the normal and UV light. This means that your skin is protected without having to apply sunblock
Safety
Most people don’t know this, but tinted glass is much safer in an accident than regular glass.
Because it is laminated between two layers of dense polymer film, tinted glass is close to shatterproof. In the event of an accident, the glass will crumble but be held in place between the two layers of film.
In the event of a serious accident or collision, broken glass can become a major hazard. That’s not a worry with electric tinted windows.
Conclusion
Sample of smaller electric window tint / smart film
Sample of larger electric window tint /smart film
If you can afford it then an electric window tinting system is the way to go. It costs more than a regular window tint, but the bonuses are too good to pass up on.
Being able to adjust the amount of light in the car as well as the various other benefits makes electric window tinting a great option.
It’s safer for the passengers in the event of an accident and better for everyone’s health in the long run.
If you’re still not sold on the practice, give it a couple of years to become more widespread. The price will most likely come down as more people become equipped to install it.
If you’re thinking of getting your windows tinted but don’t want to spend money on electric smart glass, look at getting ceramic or carbon film since these are the most durable and affordable alternatives.