We’ve all been there — stepping into a car after it’s been baking in the summer sun feels like walking into a sauna.
Seats too hot to touch, steering wheels that need oven mitts, and dashboards radiating heat like a stovetop.
But Nissan thinks they’ve cracked the code to making summer drives much cooler — literally.
Their answer? A new kind of paint that actually keeps your car from overheating.
The Science Behind Nissan’s Cool New Paint
Nissan’s latest innovation isn’t just about aesthetics. This paint has some serious science behind it.
Using the concept of radiative cooling, engineers have developed a coating that reflects heat away from the vehicle.
How? The paint is made with special metamaterials — microscopic particles that work double duty.
One set of particles reflects infrared rays (the ones that cause things to heat up), while the other emits electromagnetic waves that help push heat back into the atmosphere.
It’s like giving your car its own invisible sunshield.
Real-World Tests Show Promising Results
To see how well this tech works, Nissan tested it out on their NV100 vans at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
These vehicles are used by All Nippon Airways, and the difference was pretty noticeable.
The vans’ exterior temperatures dropped by 12°C, and inside the cabin, things were 5°C cooler — a welcome relief for any driver or passenger.
Lower cabin temps also mean less work for the air conditioning, which can save on fuel or battery life — a big win for both comfort and efficiency.
Still in Testing, But the Future Looks Bright
While this innovation is exciting, it’s not quite ready for mass production just yet.
One of the challenges? The current version of the paint is six times thicker than traditional automotive coatings — around 120 microns.
Nissan’s engineers are now focused on refining the formula to get the same cooling benefits with a thinner, more practical application.
From Rooftops to Roadways: What’s Next for Cooling Paint?
This isn’t the first time cooling paint has been used — it’s been a game-changer for rooftops in hot climates, reflecting up to 98% of solar energy and slashing indoor temperatures.
But applying that concept to cars opens a whole new world of possibilities.
If Nissan’s technology proves effective and affordable, it could one day become a standard feature in vehicles, making those scorching summer commutes a lot more bearable for everyone.
Looking Ahead
Nissan’s paint isn’t just a cool idea — it’s a potential step forward in energy efficiency, driver comfort, and climate-conscious design.
If all goes well, the days of burning your hands on the steering wheel or blasting the AC the second you sit down could be a thing of the past.
So, what’s next? Keep an eye on Nissan — they might just be painting the way to a cooler future.
