Japanese automaker Nissan is testing a heat-reflecting white paint designed to cool the exterior of its cars by up to 22 degrees Fahrenheit and the interiors by nine degrees Fahrenheit.
Nissan’s innovative paint aims to prevent cars from becoming unbearably hot when parked in the sun, reducing the need for air-conditioning. This initiative is part of Nissan’s broader effort to enhance vehicle efficiency and sustainability, especially significant in the electric vehicle (EV) era. “My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy,” said Susumu Miura, senior manager at the Nissan Research Center, in a press release.
The Nissan heat-reflecting paint, introduced in November 2023, is six times thicker than standard car paint. The company partnered with energy tech company Radi-Cool to apply this cooling paint to airport service vehicles at Tokyo International Air Terminal for a 12-month trial. Nissan hopes to extend this application to commercial vehicles in the future.
This technology is becoming more appealing as the auto industry shifts towards climate-conscious solutions. Other companies, like Toyota, are also exploring similar cooling paint technologies.
Nissan’s paint effectiveness comes from two types of particles: one that reflects near-infrared rays, preventing heat absorption, and another that creates electromagnetic waves to deflect heat. Shu Yang, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, compared the paint to sunscreen, which both absorbs and reflects UV rays. Materials like titanium oxide, commonly found in sunscreen, are also used in these cooling paints.
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