Nissan Cool Paint Promises Lower Cabin TemperaturesNissan Cool Paint Promises Lower Cabin Temperatures

Nissan is testing a new heat-rejecting paint on the scorching hot tarmac of Haneda airport.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

August 9, 2024

2 Min Read
The pyrometer shows the temperature of the NV200 van's hood while baking in the sun.
The pyrometer shows the temperature of the NV200 van's hood while baking in the sun.Nissan

At a Glance

  • 21.6-degree (F) reduction in exterior surface temperatures
  • 9-degree (F) cooler interior
  • Targeting thinner paint layers, more colors

Heat-rejecting paint is nothing new on buildings and other structures that are suitable for thick, gloppy paint that is applied with a roller. But Nissan and technology partner Radi-Cool are testing a paint that can be sprayed onto cars’ sheetmetal.

This paint embeds synthetic composite metamaterial with structures that exhibit properties not usually found in nature to help reject solar heat from the roof, hood, and fenders on test cars as they rove the airport.

Last November, Nissan launched a 12-month feasibility trial at Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda using a Nissan NV100 van operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport services. Already, there are results.

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Parked side-by-side under the sun, a vehicle treated in Nissan's cool paint has shown yields of up to a 21.6-degree Fahrenheit reduction in exterior surface temperatures and up to 9-degree Fahrenheit cooler interior, compared to a vehicle featuring traditional automotive paint.

The effect is most pronounced when a vehicle is parked in the sun for an extended period, providing a cooler cabin to enter and less subsequent air-conditioning run-time to cool the cabin to a comfortable temperature. This is especially beneficial for electric vehicles, as it reduces the draw on the battery.

Related:Nissan Solid-State Battery Plant Nears Production Readiness

The metamaterial embedded in the paint includes two microstructure particles that react to light. One particle reflects near-infrared rays in the sunlight that would normally produce heat. Nissan says that the second particle isthe real breakthrough: It creates electromagnetic waves that counteract the sun's rays, redirecting the energy away from the vehicle into the atmosphere.

The challenge has been to develop a version of this technology that is compatible with the demands of the automotive market. That means the ability to apply the paint with a spray gun, the ability to incorporate a clear topcoat, to meet automotive durability requirements, and to provide a satisfactory appearance.

The 120-micron paint surface applied to the test vehicles is about six times thicker than regular automotive paint and has so far confirmed resistance to salt and chipping, peeling, scratches, chemical reactions, along with color consistency and repairability. The goal is to develop paint that will continue to provide similar results with thinner coats. Nissan would also like to be able to use the technology in the full spectrum of paint colors and not just the white of the test vehicles.

“My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy,” explained Susumu Miura, senior manager and expert at the Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Research Center. “This is especially important in the EV era, where the load from running air-conditioning in summer can have a sizable impact on the state of charge,” he said.

Related:Nissan Combats Solstice Night with LED Headlight Technology

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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