Nissan has been trialing an innovative automotive paint aimed at helping lower a vehicleʼs ambient cabin temperature in summer and reduce the energy usage of the air-conditioning system.

Developed in partnership 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.

The project is part of Nissanʼs pursuit of differentiated innovations that empower journeys and to help create a cleaner more sustainable society.

In November 2023, Nissan commenced a 12-month feasibility trial at Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda. In collaboration with Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd., Radi-Cool Japan, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport service, Nissanʼs cool paint has been applied to a Nissan NV100 service vehicle operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport services.

With its large, open tarmac, Haneda airport provided the perfect environment to conduct real-world evaluation of the paintʼs 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 Nissanʼs cool paint has shown yields of up to a 21.6 °F reduction in exterior surface temperatures and up to 9 °F cooler interior, compared to a vehicle featuring traditional automotive paint.

The paintʼs cooling performance is particularly noticeable when a vehicle is parked in the sun for an extended period. A cooler cabin is not only more pleasant to enter, but also requires less air-conditioning run-time to cool the cabin to a comfortable temperature. This 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 Nissanʼs 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 Nissanʼs cool paint reduce the transfer of heat into surfaces such as the roof, hood, doors and panels.

Leading the development is Dr. Susumu Miura, Senior Manager and expert at the Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Research Center. He played a leading role in Nissanʼs award-winning noise-reducing acoustic material, and has dedicated much of his career at Nissan to exploring ways to make cars quieter, cooler and more efficient.

“My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy,” explained 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 isnʼt new, it is typically used for buildings and structures. Itʼs 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, was to ensure it could incorporate a clear topcoat, be applied via a spray gun (not a roller), and meet Nissanʼs rigorous internal 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 color 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.