SYLVANIA lighting crew tackles myths in ‘Truth Sleuths’ webisodes

SYLVANIA Automotive is shedding some light on automotive lighting myths in its all new “Truth Sleuths” video series. These webisodes take viewers into the lab and out to the real world to find out what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to automotive lighting perceptions.

Hosted by Greg Bibbo and Joe Swadel – two bright engineers from SYLVANIA who have 38 years of experience with bulbs, ballasts and beams – combine their love for science and lighting with kid-like curiosity and bantering to prove that automotive lighting doesn’t have to be boring.

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Launched to coincide with Daylight Savings, the first webisode explores what happens to a vehicle’s headlights as they age – whether they dim with use or just burn out.

SYLVANIA "Truth Sleuths"

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFmR0Goxlzc

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In the lab, Greg and Joe show viewers how a headlight heats up and displaces molecules, creating hotspots and weak spots that ultimately lead to non-uniform light and filament failure over time. In the real world, they conduct a late night road test featuring two nearly identical vehicles – one retrofitted with new bulbs, the other with old bulbs – and then measure how long it takes to spot an object on a dark unlit stretch of highway.

One finding is particularly surprising, even for the experts: They observed more than 300 feet in additional visibility while driving with new headlights. That is almost the length of a football field, or about three more seconds of reaction time at highway speeds with new, premium bulbs.

“Headlights are such an important safety feature on our vehicles, but there are a lot of drivers who might be in the dark about the performance of their headlights,” says Joe Verbanic, marketing manager, SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting. “We’re hoping our very own SYLVANIA Truth Sleuths will both educate and entertain viewers about automotive lighting, and set to rest some mistaken beliefs about headlights or validate other truths.”

The SYLVANIA Truth Sleuths series will continue with additional webisodes, and Facebook fans are encouraged to submit their questions and ideas on the myths that Joe and Greg should tackle next. Viewers can also follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #SYLsleuths.

To watch the first webisode or to learn more from the Truth Sleuths, visit www.facebook.com/SylvaniaAutomotive. For more information from OSRAM SYLVANIA on improving driving visibility, visit www.sylvania.com/auto.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting

OSRAM SYLVANIA, together with OSRAM AG, is the world leader in automotive lighting for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket. The company’s global automotive lighting division has its principal North American operations in Hillsboro, N.H., with nearly 600 employees. In addition to TS 16949, this facility has also achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications. Automotive Lighting designs, develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art automotive light sources, including auxiliary, advanced halogen, LED and high-intensity discharge lighting for interior, exterior and forward lighting applications. More than 400 lamp types are produced for cars, trucks, and electronics in facilities throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Automotive applications for OEMs are marketed under the OSRAM brand while products for the aftermarket are sold under the SYLVANIA brand.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA

OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions and services, specializing in innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.