We all know and dread the feeling of getting into a hot car that has been baking under the sun. As we lower the windows to vent the hot air out and set the A/C on full blast, we wonder if the next summer will be even hotter than the last.

Nissan may not have the answer to global warming, but it can make its vehicles significantly cooler in the near future with the development of advanced paint. Developed in partnership with Radi-Cool, a specialist in radiative cooling products, the paint uses metamaterial (synthetic composite materials) with chemical structures that exhibit properties not usually found in nature.

In November 2023, Nissan began a 12-month trial at Tokyo International Air Terminal in Haneda.

As part of a collaboration with Japan Airport Terminal, Radi-Cool Japan, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport service, the experimental paint was applied to an NV100 service van operated by ANA.

With its large, open tarmac, Haneda airport was the perfect environment to test the performance of the paint under an exposed, high-temperature environment.

Compared to a similar van with regular paint, the NV100 with the experimental coating showed up to a 12°C reduction in exterior surface temperatures and an interior up to 5°C cooler.

The metamaterial embedded within the paint features two microstructure particles that react to light. One particle reflects near-infrared rays in the sunlight that would typically cause heat-causing molecular vibrations within the resin of traditional paint.

Meanwhile, the second particle creates electromagnetic waves that counteract the sun’s rays, redirecting the energy away from the vehicle. Combined, the two particles in the paint reduce heat transfer onto surfaces such as the roof, the hood, the doors, and the panels.

Along with the reduced heat transfer, this also lessens the load on the car’s A/C system, in turn aiding in fuel efficiency.

While radiant cooling paint isn’t new—being typically applied for buildings and structures—it hasn’t always been practical for automotive use. It is often very thick, requiring application by a paint roller. Without a topcoat, it can leave a chalky residue when touched.

For Nissan’s experimental paint, Dr. Susumu Miura engineered it to incorporate a clear topcoat applicable via a spray gun and meet Nissan’s standards for paint quality.

Since the project began in 2021, Dr. Miura and his team have tested over 100 samples and are currently evaluating a thickness of 120 microns (around six times thicker than typical automotive paint).

It is resistant to salt and chipping, peeling, scratches, and chemical reactions, along with color consistency and repairability.

The team is continuing to develop the paint for thinner options while delivering the same level of cooling performance, along with future options for special orders and a variety of colors.

While the team sees strong potential for light-commercial vehicle applications, we bet it would also be a hit in tropical markets for regular consumers.