Nissan surprises and creates “magic” paint that reduces the internal temperature of cars, improving the efficiency of air conditioning when exposed to the sun

Nissan develops new paint that promises to reduce fuel consumption and increase the range of electric cars.

A Nissan, known for its innovations in the automotive sector, is testing a new automotive paint that promises to transform the way cars deal with high temperatures. In collaboration with Radi-Cool, a specialist in radiative cooling products, Nissan has developed a “cool paint” that can significantly reduce the internal temperature of vehicles exposed to the sun. The paint was applied to a vehicle used by airport services to observe how it behaves in real situations.

Performance and benefits of the new ink

Preliminary test results have been promising. Vehicles coated with Nissan's cool paint have shown up to a 12°C reduction in external surface temperatures and up to a 5°C reduction in internal temperature compared to vehicles painted with traditional automotive paints.

This difference is particularly noticeable when vehicles are parked in the sun for long periods.

One of the main advantages of this innovation is the improvement in occupant comfort. One car with the new cold paint it becomes more pleasant to enter after a period of sun exposure.

Additionally, reducing the internal temperature means that the air conditioning system has to work less to reach a comfortable temperature.

This can lead to a reduction in energy consumption, benefiting both vehicles with internal combustion engines and electric vehicles.

For electric cars, reducing the use of air conditioning can extend battery life and improve the vehicle's overall efficiency.

How does Nissan cold paint work?

Nissan's cool paint incorporates metamaterials, a technological advancement that improves its cooling capacity.

The metamaterial used contains two microstructure particles that react to sunlight.

The first particle reflects near-infrared rays, which would normally cause heating in the vehicle.

The second particle creates electromagnetic waves that neutralize the sun's rays and redirect the energy into the atmosphere.

These particles work together to reduce heat transfer to the surfaces of the vehicle, such as roof, hood, doors and panels.

The result is a paint that not only improves interior comfort, but also contributes to the vehicle's energy efficiency.

Behind the scenes of creation

The development of cold ink is not a new idea, but its application in vehicles represents a significant advance.

Traditionally, radiant cooling paints are used on buildings and structures, and are often applied with rollers and without a clear finish, which can result in unwanted residue.

To adapt the technology to the automotive sector, Susumu Miura, senior manager and expert at Nissan Research Center's Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, led a team that tested more than 100 samples.

The team is currently evaluating a thickness of 120 microns, about six times thicker than conventional automotive paint.

They confirmed that the paint is resistant to salt, chipping, peeling and scratching, as well as maintaining color consistency and repairability.

Miura and his team are working to develop thinner options that offer the same level of cooling performance.

They hope that in the future, cool paint could be available in a variety of colors and for special orders, especially for light commercial vehicles that spend a lot of their time exposed to the sun.