--- title: "Nissan Invents Car Paint That Can Lower Interior Temps by Nearly 10 Degrees" date: "2024-08-06" modified: "2024-08-06" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/tech/nissan-invents-car-paint-that-can-lower-interior-temps-by-nearly-10-degrees" categories: - "Car Tech" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" --- # Nissan Invents Car Paint That Can Lower Interior Temps by Nearly 10 Degrees ![]() *Nissan* Thermal paint coatings aren't new. For decades, commercial buildings from schools to skyscrapers have used specialized coatings on roofs and exterior walls to keep their interiors as cool as possible. However, you can't just use those same finishes for cars, as car paint needs to be light, thin, and durable—everything thermal coatings typically aren't. However, [Nissan]() is working on a special cooling paint designed for automotive use, and it's reportedly proving effective in testing. Nissan simply calls it "[cool paint]()," and it's essentially a white paint that reflects solar energy. The cooler a car cabin is in the summer, the less air conditioning is needed. That's helpful for internal combustion cars but it's an even bigger deal for [electric vehicles](), where extensive AC use poses the most significant energy draw. To showcase its new cool paint, Nissan painted some service vans at the Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda and has begun a 12-month feasibility trial contract with the airport. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() When parked next to normally painted vehicles at the airport, where there's very little shade, Nissan says it recorded interior temps around 9 degrees Fahrenheit cooler for the coated car. That's a noticeable difference in comfort and could drastically reduce air conditioning use, extending EV range. Nissan doesn't say whether the cars in that comparison specifically were both painted white, but its "cool paint" still appears to thermally outperform regular white, as the images below illustrate. "My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy," said Dr. Susumu Miura, senior manager and expert at the Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Research Center. "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." Nissan is aware that [it's not the only one working on thermal coatings for vehicles](), but it says its approach is unique, thanks to two specific microstructure particles. One reflects near-infrared rays that "typically cause molecular level vibrations within the resin of traditional paint to produce heat," according to the company. The other creates electromagnetic fields that counter the sun's rays, and redirect that energy back into the atmosphere. Additionally, the coating can be applied to cars in a way that's not only effective but supposedly applicable on a large scale. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Rather than typically thick thermal coatings that require rollers to apply, Nissan's cool paint is thin enough to be sprayed onto a car at a layer of 120 microns. That's far thinner than the usual 400 microns, or even 800 microns of some thermal paints. Most thermal paints also can't function with a clear top coat but Nissan's is different, so it can be protected from scratches, rock chips, road salt, or anything else that car paint needs to endure over a lifetime. There are still some downsides, though. One is cost, as this sort of paint isn't going to be cheap. The other is weight. While 120 microns is considerably thinner than most thermal paints, it's still many times thicker than normal car paint tends to be, so it will add mass. However, Nissan is testing its cool paint in various thicknesses and applications, as well as working on colors other than white, to hopefully use it on road cars someday. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()