By reflecting 97.9 percent of sunlight, this new ultra white paint can reduce the surface temperature of a cabin by 5-6 degrees Celsius (41-43 degrees Fahrenheit). The thickness is 150 micrometers, which is about 30 micrometers thicker than average for production cars.
The hexagonal boron nitride nanoplatelets are what make this paint both thin and reflective. With those, you only need one coat of paint to get the cooled effect that you want.
The more sunlight reflected, the less the interior heats up and the less it needs to cool down. Any vehicle is more efficient when you use less air conditioning, which universally leads to fewer emissions. Additionally, cars with electric motors rely on battery power would need to be charged less often if the air conditioner was used sparingly - another way of reducing a car's reliance on dirty energy from the grid.
However, there is a catch. This new bright white paint is pricey and will likely be used only in situations where saving precious weight is critical, according to Xiulin Ruan, professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University. Therefore, this paint will probably not be seen on cars in the near future but it could have potential uses for planes and trains. However, as reflective paint technology improves, the cost of production could decrease to a point where it would be viable for automotive use.
Source: CEN