Nissan Motor Co. said it has developed a new type of paint that significantly reduces the temperature inside vehicles parked in direct sunlight.

The surface of a car coated with the innovative material remains up to 12 degrees cooler than that of a vehicle with standard paint, tests showed.

The company said the coating material can help rein in the temperature rise not only on the car’s body but also in the vehicle when exposed to direct sunlight.

    • @[email protected]
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      804 months ago

      This is because the substance artificially reproduces a process known as radiative cooling on the painted surface. A typical example of radiative cooling is a phenomenon where the ground releases heat to cool off.

      Nissan worked with the Chinese enterprise Radi-Cool as it specializes in the creation of radiative cooling technologies and materials.

      (…)

      However, one obstacle remains: the paint is six times thicker than the usual coating on the car body surface. The substance is also more expensive, which would add to the total cost of a new vehicle.

      That, in turn, makes it difficult for the coating material to be utilized for mass-produced passenger automobiles.

      For this reason, Nissan is looking to commercialize the paint on ambulances and other specialized vehicles as the first step.

      • @[email protected]
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        354 months ago

        However, one obstacle remains: the paint is six times thicker than the usual coating on the car body surface. The substance is also more expensive, which would add to the total cost of a new vehicle.

        That, in turn, makes it difficult for the coating material to be utilized for mass-produced passenger automobiles.

        With 6 times thicker paint there’s a chance it also wouldn’t rust like a proper Nissan and we can’t have that, now can we

      • @ace_garp
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        134 months ago

        …the paint is six times thicker than the usual coating on the car body surface… looking to commercialize the paint on ambulances and other specialized vehicles as the first step.

        This is the best part of the article.

        After driving ambulance during Australian summers, in the Great Victorian Desert, this would assist so much with operating temperatures. A literal life-saver, if the AC ever broke, also.

    • Onno (VK6FLAB)
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      234 months ago

      It’s staggering to me the number of black cars being sold in hot countries like Australia. Not to mention just how hard they are to see against the background of a bitumen road.

      • @daddy32
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        74 months ago

        In some countries, you get a penalty on insurance depending on the car color, with maximum penalty reserved for black cars.

        • @Kuma
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          44 months ago

          How is it with silver and grey? Do you get a heavy penalty for them too? If it rains, snow and/or are foggy can it be very tricky to see silver and grey cars.

          • @daddy32
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            24 months ago

            I’m not really sure. I think white and red are the cheapest.

            • @[email protected]
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              84 months ago

              Growing up I remember hearing that red cars were the most expensive for insurance, as owners of red cars had the highest incidence of speeding and dangerous driving.

            • @rottingleaf
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              14 months ago

              Red is the cheapest? It’s also a rather nice color, no?

              White is fine too.

          • @[email protected]
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            14 months ago

            Heavy rain or snow all that matters is if the lights work!

            Source: we get both around here

          • @daddy32
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            24 months ago

            Lol. Wouldn’t want to see that applied to people although I can imagine the rhetoric.

        • @ace_garp
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          24 months ago

          Everyone wants to be Mr Black.

    • nomad
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      24 months ago

      Veeerry reflective white paint. Probably not street legal

    • @ace_garp
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      14 months ago

      That paint’s name…?

      A mirror, the car is now mirrorball.