We’ve all been there—parking our car in the sun for hours, whether after a day at the beach or a hike, only to return to a vehicle that feels like a furnace. On hot days, it doesn’t take long for the temperature inside a car to skyrocket. Even at an outside temperature of 25°C, the interior can reach a stifling 50°C in under an hour, and the dashboard can hit over 85°C.
Usually, the quick fix is to crank the engine and blast the AC. But as we all know, that’s not exactly energy-efficient, especially when you have to keep it running at full blast just to make the cabin bearable.
There haven’t been many tech-based solutions to address this issue—aside from remote-starting your AC or using the trusty old sunshade. However, Nissan might have come up with something that could at least take the edge off.
A Cool Innovation
Nissan recently tested a new kind of paint designed to reduce the temperature inside a vehicle during the summer, aiming to lessen the energy demand on air conditioning systems. Developed in collaboration with Radi-Cool, a company known for its expertise in radiative cooling products, this paint uses metamaterials—synthetic composite materials with properties that don’t typically occur in nature.
While the technology is still in the experimental phase, the early results are promising. In side-by-side tests, vehicles treated with this special cooling paint showed exterior surface temperature reductions of up to 12°C. Inside, the drop was just as impressive, with interior temperatures falling by up to 5°C compared to cars with standard paint.
The Science Behind the Paint
So, how does it work? The paint incorporates two types of microstructured particles that react to sunlight in fascinating ways. The first type of particle reflects near-infrared rays from the sun, preventing the usual molecular vibrations that would occur in traditional paint and generate heat. The second type creates electromagnetic waves that counter the sun’s rays, essentially redirecting the solar energy away from the vehicle and back into the atmosphere.
Together, these particles reduce heat transfer to exterior surfaces like the roof, hood, and doors, making a noticeable difference in how hot the car gets when parked in the sun.
Overcoming Challenges in Car Paint Technology
Radiative cooling paints aren’t exactly new. They’ve been used for years on buildings and infrastructure to help manage heat, but the challenge has always been adapting this technology for cars. Traditional cooling paints tend to be thick, applied with a roller, and lack a clear coat—often leaving a chalky residue that just wouldn’t fly on a vehicle.
Nissan’s real innovation has been finding a way to incorporate this high-tech paint with a transparent finishing layer, while still making it sprayable like standard car paint. That’s a big leap forward, bringing us one step closer to more energy-efficient, cooler cars—without compromising on aesthetics or practicality.
While it may take some time before this technology becomes mainstream, it’s exciting to think that parking in the sun might no longer mean returning to a sweltering car.
My name is Noah and I’m a dedicated member of the “Jason Deegan” team. With my passion for technology, I strive to bring you the latest and most exciting news in the world of high-tech.