This innovation tested by a major brand allows the interior of cars to be cooled without using air conditioning.
What if it were soon possible to no longer use the air conditioning in your car in the summer when it’s hot? Today, almost all vehicles on the road are equipped with this cabin cooling system which, let’s face it, is a lifesaver in periods of extreme heat. Except that the air conditioning, adjustable to the nearest degree or half-degree, also has its drawbacks. If the temperature difference with the outside air is too great – it is advisable not to exceed a difference of 5-7 degrees – it is not uncommon to catch a cold. Above all, using the air conditioning affects your vehicle’s fuel consumption, which means a slightly more frequent trip to the pump and therefore fewer euros in your wallet.
But can we really do without air conditioning in the summer and do as many motorists did not so long ago, namely roll down our windows to avoid smothering? It’s not easy to give up comfort, but some manufacturers are thinking about alternatives. This is the case of the Nissan brand, which for several years has been working on a way to cool cars without using air conditioning. To achieve its goals, the Japanese manufacturer – father of the small city car Micra, among others – joined forces in 2021 with a company specializing in cooling products. This collaboration with the Radi-Cool company resulted in a revolutionary discovery in the automotive world.
What is it? Nissan has tested a new paint that, through its chemical properties, can reduce heat transfer to the car’s various surfaces. The engineers conducted a full-scale test by parking an NV100 model on the tarmac of Tokyo International Airport in the sun to compare it with other vehicles covered in traditional paint. The results are astonishing. The Nissan covered in “cooling” paint was 12 degrees cooler on its exterior surfaces (hood, roof, doors, etc.). Inside, the thermometer showed an average of 5 degrees cooler!
A simple coat of paint – a process already used to “cool” some buildings but reworked to adapt to the automobile – can therefore lower the temperature inside a car. So far, Nissan engineers have only experimented with white paint, but they are hopeful that they will be able to obtain similar results with other colors.
This innovation should allow motorists to significantly reduce the use of air conditioning in the near future. Which could have major repercussions on the autonomy of electric cars. Air conditioning plays a big role in battery charge. By reducing its use, drivers will be able to travel more kilometers between two recharges. While staying cool!