Nissan is revolutionizing the automotive industry with its new “cool paint” technology. While thermal paint coatings have been used in commercial buildings for years, they have never been suitable for cars. Car paint needs to be light, thin, and durable, which is not typically the case for thermal coatings. However, Nissan has developed a cooling paint specifically designed for automotive use, and initial testing has shown promising results.
The cool paint is essentially a white paint that reflects solar energy. By keeping the car cabin cooler, less air conditioning is needed, which is beneficial for both internal combustion cars and electric vehicles (EVs). AC usage is a significant energy draw in EVs, so reducing it can help extend the vehicle’s range. To showcase the effectiveness of the cool paint, Nissan painted some service vans at the Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda and began a 12-month feasibility trial contract with the airport.
Compared to normally painted vehicles, the coated car at the airport recorded interior temperatures around 9 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. This significant difference in comfort could drastically reduce the need for air conditioning and improve EV range. While Nissan does not specify whether the comparison vehicles were both painted white, the images provided suggest that the cool paint outperforms regular white paint thermally.
Dr. Susumu Miura, senior manager and expert at the Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Research Center, expressed his dream of creating cooler cars without consuming additional energy. This is especially crucial in the EV era, where the energy used by air conditioning systems during the summer can significantly impact the state of charge.
Nissan acknowledges that other companies are also working on thermal coatings for vehicles. However, it claims that its approach is unique due to the use of two specific microstructure particles. One particle reflects near-infrared rays that typically generate heat within traditional paint, while the other creates electromagnetic fields that counter the sun’s rays and redirect the energy back into the atmosphere. Additionally, Nissan’s cool paint can be applied effectively on a large scale.
Unlike traditional thick thermal coatings that are applied with rollers, Nissan’s cool paint can be sprayed onto a car at a layer of 120 microns, making it considerably thinner than most thermal paints. It can also be protected with a clear top coat, offering durability against scratches, rock chips, road salt, and other hazards that car paint faces over its lifetime.
However, there are still some downsides to consider. The cost of this specialized paint is likely to be high, making it an expensive option. Additionally, while 120 microns is thinner than most thermal paints, it is still thicker than regular car paint, which adds weight to the vehicle. Nevertheless, Nissan is actively testing the cool paint in various thicknesses and applications and is also working on expanding the color options beyond white for potential use in road cars.
Nissan’s cool paint technology represents a significant advancement in the automotive industry. By reducing the need for air conditioning and improving the comfort and range of vehicles, it has the potential to enhance the overall driving experience, especially in the growing market of electric vehicles. While there are still hurdles to overcome, such as cost and weight, Nissan’s dedication to innovation and improvement shows promise for a future where cars can be cooler without consuming excessive energy.
