HID vs. LED headlight kits

They are already getting LEDs into a tube like structure like the below pic. I doubt that will be an issue in the near future.

 

The lights you have shown project all their light to the side, no light goes out front, where it is needed. All that tube like structure is getting in the way of even light distribution. Talk about ground and everywhere else shadows.

 

Actually, I think the light reflects off a back reflector before going forward.

 

How can the light go forward, there is a black plastic cap on the tip of "the tube like structure"?

 

I've personally measured the current for the 35W HID and it was not running at 35W.
It was slightly lowered than 55W halogen bulb.

 

I believe the watt-rating refers to power consumption, therefore I'd expect them to be nearly the same.

 

Here was the result (I think my multimeter reads little lower current, just to give you an idea)
55W halogen bulb : 4.25 amp x 12v = 51 watt
35W ballast : 3.9 amp x 12v = 46.8 watt
35W slim ballast : 3.57 amp x 12v = 42.84 watt
55W ballast : 4.39 amp x 12v = 52.68 watt
1st gen LED bulb : 0.9 amp x 12v = 10.8 watt (rated for 1200 lumen)
2nd gen LED bulb : 1.93 amp x 12v = 23.16 watt (rated for 1800 lumen)
3rd gen LED bulb : Not tested yet...

 

Were the measurements taken with the car in Ready mode or ignition off?

Ignition off is only 12.x volts versus 14.x volts when in Ready mode. Point being, the calculated wattage in your measurements are all based on a constant 12v. In actual use the wattage will have to be based on the 14v available in Ready mode.

SCH-I535

 

Those were tested on 12v constant (Most combustion engine car runs at 13.7v +/-)
I have not measure the PIP... did you measure the voltage??
Most HID and LED headlight has regulator, so they run off of 12v
Halogen bulb there is no regulator...
My testing was for comparison, so I had to use the constant voltage...

 

I don't know much about Prius cars (but am learning) but I can tell you that in aviation application, HID lamps are much more expensive and much brighter than their LED equivalent. HID lamps in aviation applications require a separate power supply and are not plug-n-play. There are now LED plug and play landing and taxi lights. So for aviation application, incadescents (generally what comes from the factor) are ok, LEDs give you a big step up in terms of reliability and lighting and HIDs are the most expensive and are considered to be the top of the line in terms of lighting, reliability and life. Have no idea if this translates to cars or not but wanted to share the experience.

 

If you are comparing with same application for both HID and LED which having a same light output, LED will be way more expensive..
In aviation, everything is expensive.
HID alway will have ballast to power it... (if you were talking about that)
LED can be bright as the HID, but it's really expensive to make...