Nissan and Radi-Cool, a manufacturer of radiative cooling solutions, are working together to create a car paint that disperses heat more effectively. According to preliminary test results, the new cool paint can lower interior temperatures by up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit and outdoor surface temperatures by about 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
By using less energy to regulate cabin temperatures, the new paint technique may contribute to increased car efficiency. It typically takes a longer time to run the air conditioning system on hot days in order to get the cabin down to a comfortable temperature, which adds extra strain to the engine.
Since November 2023, Nissan has been testing the new material at Haneda airport’s Tokyo International Air Terminal. Given that cars are on the tarmac for extended periods of time in the heat, airport service provides an excellent practical testing ground. The cars with the cool paint applied have demonstrated notable drops in temperature, both inside and outside, when compared to those wearing conventional coats.
The paint’s incorporated metamaterial is the cause of this cooling effect. Two light-reactive microstructure particles exist: one produces heat by reflecting sunlight’s near-infrared rays, while the other produces electromagnetic waves that reroute the photons back into the atmosphere.
Although the outcomes are striking, more work needs to be done before the new technology is prepared for use in production cars. The thickness of the paint under test is 120 microns, which is six times that of standard car paint. The group is also focused on creating hues other than the original white.
Nissan says that the cool paint will first be targeted at long-distance trucks and delivery vans, among other commercial vehicle applications. But eventually, it’s possible that the technology will be offered as a standard feature on ordinary passenger automobiles.