Nissan Technology Breakthrough Brings New Meaning To “Cool Paint Job”

More people buy black, white, grey, and silver cars than any other hue, but it turns out that even boring paint colors could become a heat shield for future vehicles. Nissan is working with Radi-Cool, a specialist in radiative cooling products, to incorporate synthetic composite materials that help reflect heat.

The partnership aims to lower vehicles’ ambient interior temperatures to reduce reliance on air conditioning, which can zap fuel economy. Nissan said that in late 2023, it started a 12-month feasibility study at the Tokyo International Airport. It applied the “cool paint” to an NV100 service vehicle and parked it under the sun on the tarmac.

Compared to a vehicle with normal paint parked nearby, the NV100 wearing heat-resistant paint was up to 21.6 degrees Fahrenheit cooler on the outside and nine degrees cooler in the cabin.

Nissan said the paint features metamaterials with two microstructure particles that react to light. One of the particles redirects sunlight energy away from the vehicle into the atmosphere, and the automaker said the paint could eventually be used on most exterior body surfaces.

Dr. Susumu Miura, a Senior Manager at Nissan’s Research Center, said, “My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy. This is especially important in the EV era, where the load from running air-conditioning in summer can have a sizable impact on the state of charge.”

Miura’s vision of heat-reflecting paint had to overcome several obstacles, including the paint texture. Most of those types of paints, typically used on buildings, are very thick and require a paint roller to apply. They also lack a topcoat, leaving a chalky residue. Using such paint in an automotive application required developing a clear topcoat and formulating a product that could be applied with a spray gun.

The team developing the paint has tested more than 100 samples and settled on a thickness of 120 microns, several times thicker than traditional paint. Their testing has shown the paint to be salt-resistant and able to withstand chipping, peeling, and scratches.

Nissan hasn’t said when or if the paints could be used in a production car, but the development could bring significant efficiency gains for vehicles that spend most of their lives outside, like ambulances and commercial vehicles.

While heat-reflecting paints aren’t ready for the Nissan models on sale today, the team at Nissan of Rochester would be excited to discuss current paint colors and how they may affect your vehicle’s interior temperature and efficiency.