Nissan’s special paint that cools the car

Every summer day is the same story. You leave your car in the sun for just half an hour and, when you get back in, you find it boiling hot. A classic of this season, which has a direct impact on our health, but also on energy consumption, with the air conditioning pushed to maximum to cool as quickly as possible an environment that can easily reach 50-60°C.

All this could soon become a memory, as Nissan is carrying out a series of experiments regarding a painting capable of cooling the car.

The first results

In November 2023, Nissan started a test of 12 months at Tokyo Haneda International Airport. In collaboration with Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd., Radi-Cool Japan and All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport service, the paint was applied to a vehicle Nissan NV100 used by ANA.

Initial results are promising, as the NV100 parked in the sun recorded temperature 12°C lower on the bodywork and 5°C lower internal temperatures compared to the vehicle with traditional paint.

As mentioned, a cooler cabin in summer not only increases comfort, but also reduces the use of air conditioning, decreasing the fuel consumption for internal combustion engine vehicles and preserving battery charge, and therefore autonomy, in electric cars.

How does it work

Developed in collaboration with Radi-Cool, a company specializing in radiant cooling technologies, this paint contains synthetic metamaterials with properties not found in nature.

The cooling capabilities of Nissan paint are due to two microscopic particles that react to light. One particle reflects the sun’s near-infrared rays, which are responsible for heating traditional paint, while the other generates electromagnetic waves that dissipate the heat. The combined action of these particles reduces the temperature of the vehicle’s external surfaces, such as the roof, hood, doors and panels.

The project is led by Dr. Susumu Miura, Senior Manager and Expert at Nissan Research Center’s Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory.

Although the paint for the radiant cooling is not new, it is usually used in buildings and is characterized by a high density, requires application with a roller and can leave residue. The main challenge for Nissan is to create a paint that is lightweight, can be applied with a spray gun and meets the company’s quality standards.

Since the project began in 2021, Miura and his team have tested more than 100 samples and are working to achieve a paint thickness of 120 microns, six times thicker than traditional paints, that is resistant to salt spray, chipping, peeling, scratching and chemical reactions, while maintaining color intensity and repairability.

The Miura team continues to develop thinner solutions that offer the same cooling performance and a wide range of color options. We just have to wait for the first “series” applications.