Central Saint-Gobain Co, a joint venture between Japan's Central Glass & French Compagnie Saint-Gobain, will market the first light-regulating auto glass in Japan. The company plans to start full-scale delivery by fiscal 2008. The product uses 2 sheets of glass whose inside surfaces are coated with a film containing tungsten oxide. When 1.5v/electricity is applied to the film, the tungsten oxide changes color, blocking light & heat. How much light & heat are allowed to pass can be controlled by the driver. The visible light transmittance of the glass is variable between 4-40% & solar radiation transmittance between 2-24%. It will be used in sunroofs, rear windows & rear side windows but not in the windshield or front side windows because it allows less than 70% of visible light through, below the domestic standard. The new glass is expected to be used first & foremost in luxury cars. The glass and control device will be sold as a set, with the price expected to be less than JPY 100,000.
