Nissan Makes Headway with Cooling Paint for Automotive

As discussed in Solutions for the New Climate Era, rising global temperatures are an increasing cause for concern when it comes to the safety, performance and comfort of our infrastructure, buildings and interior spaces. The same applies to automotive. And for electric vehicles (EVs), the efficiency and cooling of batteries are growing considerations – especially as extreme heat has been shown to reduce EV battery range by up to 31% (at 100°F/38°C) (Recurrent, 2024).

Nissan has developed the innovative cooling paint using Radi-Cool technology, which incorporates a metamaterial designed to react with light. It consists of two microstructure particles: one reflects near-infrared rays, while the other creates electromagnetic waves that redirect energy from sunlight back into the atmosphere. As a result, the paint reduces the transfer of heat onto surfaces.

To test its performance in an exposed high-temperature environment, the paint was applied on a service vehicle at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The 12-month testing phase began in November 2023, and the results thus far are significant: the vehicle’s exterior surface shows a temperature reduction of up to 12°C, while the interior cabin is up to 5°C cooler (compared with typical service vehicles). This helps reduce the load on an engine (or the draw on an EV battery) while also improving passenger comfort.

The paint, which can be applied with a spray gun and used with a clear topcoat, meets rigorous quality standards (confirmed as resistant to salt, chipping, peeling, scratching and chemical reactions, it’s also colour-consistent and repairable). The team is now working on producing thinner consistencies in the hope of offering it for special orders and in a variety of colours in the future.

See CMF Industry View: Automotive, 24/25 for more cutting-edge technologies.