Motor vehicles actually use a wide range of lighting sytems, IMO not very standardized at all, from 'traditional' standard headlamps to halogens to the new xenon headlamps; the same for taillights, from standard lamps to LEDs can all be found on motor vehicles.

European countries all have standards for 2.4 and 3.0 watt bicycle dynamo lighting sytems. The B&M and other systems that Peter White Cycles sells all meet one or more of the relatively strict European standards. Unfortunately, the only standard the US has for bicycle lighting is the stupid CPSC standards for reflectors, which aren't even lights at all and don't meet the law for required night lighting equipment for bicycles in any state in the US.

I'd personally rather use a lighting system that fully meets my lighting needs, the law, one or more of the strict European standards, and most important doesn't require batteries. That of course doesn't stop you or anyone else from 'cowboying' it, but I still think it's overkill.