Nissan Redefines What A “Cool Paint Job” Is

When the temperatures and humidity are high, will your vehicle stand the heat? Or will it insulate you when it’s cold?

Many factors affect how cool or warm your vehicle will be. One of those would be the paint color of your vehicle. A lighter color is supposed to keep you cool, while darker colors are better to keep you warm. At least, that’s the basic idea.

Nissan has been working on how your vehicle’s paint could help lower its ambient temperature in the summer. That way, your vehicle could reduce energy usage of the climate control system.

This trial was developed with Radi-Cool, a company specializing in radiant cooling products. They assisted Nissan in developing automotive paint by incorporating metamaterial, synthetic composite materials with structures that exhibit properties not usually found in nature. This is part of a larger strategy to reduce the energy needed to run a vehicle as we explore ways to create a cleaner, more sustainable world.

The first trial happened just a year ago at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, as the “cool paint” was applied to a Nissan commercial vehicle operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA). This trial enabled Nissan and Radi-Cool, among other partners, to conduct a real-world evaluation of the paint's performance under an exposed high-temperature environment.

So far, the results to date have been impressive. When 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 a 9-degree Fahrenheit cooler interior compared to a vehicle featuring traditional automotive paint.

In another test, the “cool paint's” cooling performance was noticed when a vehicle was parked in the sun for an extended period. A cooler cabin was not only more pleasant to enter but also required less climate control run-time to cool the cabin to a comfortable temperature.  This helps reduce the load on the engine or, in the case of an electric vehicle, draw on the battery. In both powertrains, an improvement in efficiency is expected, as well as occupant comfort.

How is this possible? The metamaterial embedded within Nissan's “cool paint” features two microstructure particles that react to light. One particle reflects near-infrared rays in the sunlight that would typically cause molecular-level vibrations within the resin of traditional paint to produce heat.

The second particle enables the real breakthrough. It creates electromagnetic waves that counteract the sun's rays, redirecting the energy away from the vehicle into the atmosphere. Combined, the particles in Nissan's “cool paint” reduce heat transfer into surfaces such as the roof, hood, doors, and panels.

This is actually not a new idea. Radiant cooling paint has always been used for buildings and structures. It's often very thick, requiring application by a paint roller. Devoid of any clear topcoat, it can leave a chalky residue when touched.

Yet automotive paint bonds to a completely different surface than a building or structure. These tests are starting to show that it is possible to apply radiant cooling paint to an automobile with the intent of reducing heat induction and energy reliance on climate control to keep you cool during the summer, especially a South Carolina summer.

The future is full of possibilities. Nissan is taking the lead. To know more about what Nissan is doing for today’s lineup of vehicles, contact us at Dick Smith Nissan of Columbia to what we have now - and in the future.