Nissan has been trialing an innovative automotive paint aimed at helping lower a vehicle’s ambient cabin temperature in summer and reduce the energy usage of the air conditioning system.
Developed with Radi-Cool, a specialist in radiative cooling products, the paint incorporates metamaterial, synthetic composite materials with structures that exhibit properties not usually found in nature.
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In November 2023, Nissan commenced a year long feasibility trial at Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda. In collaboration with Japan Airport Terminal, Radi-Cool Japan and All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport service, cool paint was applied to a Nissan NV100 service vehicle.
With its large, open tarmac, Haneda airport provided the perfect environment to conduct real world evaluation of the paint’s performance under an exposed high temperature environment.
Although still in testing phase, the results to date have been impressive. Parked side by side under the sun, a vehicle treated in cool paint has shown yields of up to a 21.6F (-5.8C) reduction in exterior surface temperatures and up to 9F (-12.7C) cooler interior, compared to a vehicle featuring traditional automotive paint.
The paint’s cooling performance was particularly noticeable when a vehicle was parked in the sun for an extended period.
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By GlobalDataA cooler cabin requires less air conditioning run time to cool to a comfortable temperature which helps reduce load to the engine, or in the case of an electric vehicle, draw on the battery. In both powertrains, an improvement in efficiency is expected, as well as occupant comfort.
The metamaterial embedded within cool paint features two microstructure particles that react to light. One particle reflects near infrared rays in the sunlight that would typically cause molecular level vibrations within the resin of traditional paint to produce heat.
The second particle enables the real breakthrough. It creates electromagnetic waves, that counteract the sun’s rays, redirecting the energy away from the vehicle into the atmosphere. Combined, the particles in cool paint reduce the transfer of heat into surfaces such as the roof, hood, doors and panels.
Leading the development is Susumu Miura, senior manager and expert at the Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Research Center, who has dedicated much of his career to exploring ways to make cars quieter, cooler and more efficient.
“My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy” said Miura. “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,” he said.
While radiant cooling paint isn’t new, it is typically used for buildings and structures. It’s often very thick, requiring application by a paint roller. Devoid of any clear topcoat, it can leave a chalky residue when touched.
Key challenges Miura had to consider when developing an automotive version were to ensure it could incorporate a clear topcoat, be applied via a spray gun (not a roller), and meet Nissan’s rigorous standards for paint quality.
Since commencing the development in 2021, Miura and his team have tested over 100 samples, and are currently evaluating a thickness of 120 microns, approximately six times thicker than typical automotive paint. They have confirmed resistance to salt and chipping, peeling, scratches, chemical reactions, along with colour consistency and repairability. As development progresses, Miura and his team continue to explore thinner options that deliver the same level of cooling performance.
While the testing and development is ongoing, for Miura and his team, the hope is that it can one day be offered for special orders and in a variety of colors.
Miura sees strong potential, particularly for light commercial vehicle applications such as vans, trucks and ambulances that spend most of the day out driving.
