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Mercury containing Xenon HID bulbs are currently on the exemption list of the European End of Life (EoL) Directive for Vehicles [1]. Their usage is generally accepted due to their superior performance and energy efficiency. These lamps also find a wider application in the US, but environmentally cautious states start to require labeling in order to ease dismounting and safe disposal at end of life. The concern for the environment is also the driving force behind the intention of Japanese carmakers to switch over to mercury free alternatives. Under these global boundary conditions the innovation of mercury free Xenon HID headlighting started mid of 2001. This paper gives an overview on the technical background of this breakthrough. From a physical point of view, key elements of environmental-friendly design of HID bulbs and its application in car headlighting will be described. We will also address the merits of a global approach to come up with this new technology.

In recent years environmental-friendly Mercury free Xenon HID lamp - D3 and D4 respectively with and without integrated igniter - were introduced in the automotive headlighting market. This market introduction was primarily driven by an increased concern for the environment by all stakeholders in car industry including the end-users. Furthermore, ordered by public authorities world wide, via new environmental legislation rules, Mercury free Xenon HID lamps will take over an important part of the Xenon HID market in due time. Within this perspective this paper will give an overview about technical backgrounds of Mercury free Xenon HID lamp performance. Next to light technical aspects the electrical interfaces between lamp and electronic driver are included. Furthermore, new developments in terms of satisfying carmakers requests on environmental aspects, electromagnetic compatibility and application flexibility will be discussed.

In 2004 environmental-friendly mercury free xenon HID lamps - D3 and D4 respectively with and without integrated igniter - were introduced in the automotive headlighting market. Driven by an increased concern for the environment from all stake holders in the car industry mercury free xenon HID has started his successful replacement of mercury containing xenon HID lamps used for automotive head lighting all over the world. Of course, the elimination of mercury was a key factor in promoting the environmental friendliness of xenon HID. Furthermore the amount of radioactive thorium compounds could be reduced to 2% of the content of the D1/D2 bulbs. Since then mercury free bulb designs without any thorium content have been studied assessing the electrical and optical compatibility with existing mercury free system designs.