Nissan Unveils Innovative Paint That Drastically Cools Parked Vehicles

Nissan’s new automotive paint reduces vehicle temperatures by up to 21.6°F (12°C) using metamaterials, enhancing comfort and efficiency in hot weather.

Key Points

• Nissan’s new paint can cool parked vehicles by up to 21.6°F (12°C).
• The paint uses metamaterials to reflect sunlight more efficiently.
• Testing shows significant temperature reductions both outside and inside the vehicle.
• Current coating is 120 microns thick, aiming to be thinner and more durable.
• Future developments aim for a clear topcoat and color variety.

Nissan has demonstrated a groundbreaking automotive paint that can significantly reduce vehicle temperatures when parked in direct sunlight. Tests have revealed that vehicles treated with this new paint can stay up to 21.6°F (12°C) cooler than those with regular paint parked under the same conditions.

Experiencing the intense heat inside a car parked on a sunny day is not only uncomfortable but can also strain both health and vehicle air conditioning systems. Passive cooling paints and coatings offer a potential solution, and engineers at the Nissan Research Center have now developed a cutting-edge variant.

This innovative paint incorporates metamaterials that reflect the Sun’s rays more effectively. It contains two types of particles: one that efficiently reflects near-infrared wavelengths, reducing heat generation in the paint’s resin, and another that creates “electromagnetic waves,” redirecting more energy away from the vehicle and venting it into space, similar to other radiative cooling technologies.

Since last November, Nissan has been testing this coating on a Nissan NV100 service vehicle at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. The results are promising, showing that the treated vehicle’s external surfaces were up to 21.6°F (12°C) cooler, with the cabin temperature reduced by up to 9°F (5°C), compared to a vehicle with standard paint parked right next to it.

The concept of sunlight-reflecting coatings is not entirely new, as they have been used on rooftops to cool buildings. These coatings usually involve ultra-white paint containing ceramic, glass, or titanium dioxide particles. The challenge, however, lies in adapting this technology for automotive use.

Traditional cooling coatings are significantly thicker than standard automotive paint, making them impractical for vehicles. Nissan’s researchers have managed to reduce the thickness of their coating to 120 microns, which is much thinner than other cooling coatings but still thicker than the typical 20-micron layers of automotive paint. Additionally, the absence of a topcoat in the current version can reduce durability and leave a chalky residue upon touch.

Despite these challenges, the current version of Nissan’s paint shows resistance to chipping, peeling, scratching, chemical reactions, and other types of damage. It also maintains color consistency and is repairable. Future developments aim to produce an even thinner version with the same cooling performance, capable of being applied with a spray gun and available in colors other than white, along with a clear topcoat for added durability.

Nissan’s innovative cooling paint represents a significant advancement in automotive technology, promising to enhance vehicle comfort and efficiency, especially in hot climates. As research and development continue, this technology could soon become a standard feature in the automotive industry, providing a cooler and more comfortable driving experience for all.