Japan's Nissan Is Developing 'Cool Paint' To Beat The Heat In Cars

Nissan introduced a new “cool paint” on Tuesday to help keep car interiors cooler. This new coating is six times thicker than regular paint, presenting a challenge for mass production.

The announcement was timely, as Japan faced record-high temperatures. Nissan tested the paint on cars at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, which has many unshaded areas, making it perfect for testing the technology.

Despite looking like ordinary cars, vehicles with this special paint felt much cooler. Nissan reported that the paint lowered the roof temperature by 12 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit) and reduced interior temperatures by 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit).

Cooling materials are already used in buildings and other items. Cooler cars can cut air-conditioning use and lessen the heat’s impact on engines and electric vehicle batteries. Toyota is also working on paint that lowers cabin temperatures, focusing on colors that reflect the sun’s rays.

Nissan’s cool paint works by reflecting sunlight better and creating electromagnetic waves that block and redirect the rays away from vehicles. This paint was developed with Radi-Cool of China, known for creating heat-cutting films, fabrics, and coatings. Radi-Cool collaborates with various Japanese companies, offering cooler-feeling hats and sun umbrellas. Nissan is the only Japanese automaker partnering with RadiCool.

Susumu Miura, a manager at Nissan Research Center, assured that the paint's electromagnetic waves are safe. “These waves are everywhere,” he said. Miura added, “I dream of making cooler cars without using energy.”

Nissan’s cool paint represents a big step forward in car technology, offering a promising solution to beat the heat.