Cool Cars

Cool Science

The Problem

The transportation sector accounts for about one third of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.8 In 2008, the United States had over 250 million registered motor vehicles that consumed a total of 136 billion gallons of fuel.9 Use of air conditioning in cars decreases fuel economy and increases tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, contributing to global climate change and smog formation in cities.

Cool Cars

Definition

A light-colored or cool-colored car shell reflects more sunlight than a traditional dark car shell. This cools the cabin air and reduces the need for air conditioning. A recent study found that after parking in the sun for an hour, a silver Honda Civic (shell SR 0.57) had a cabin air temperature about 5-6°C (9-11°F) lower than an otherwise identical black car (shell SR 0.05). Modeling indicates that substituting a silver (or white) shell for a black shell would allow the specification of a 13% smaller (lower capacity) air conditioner, improving fuel economy.10

Light-colored car shells reflect more sunlight than dark car shells.
Light-colored car shells reflect more sunlight than dark car shells. For instance, a silver car shell reflects 60% of incoming sunlight, compared to only 5% for a black shell. (Image courtesy of Heat Island Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Benefits

Cool cars can benefit drivers, cities, and the planet.

  • Fuel savings. Substituting a cool shell for a conventional black shell permits the use of a smaller air conditioner, improving fuel economy by 1% (for a cool colored shell with 35% solar reflectance) to 2% (for a white or silver shell with 60% solar reflectance).
  • Better air quality. Specifying a smaller air conditioner reduces tailpipe emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons.
  • Slowed climate change. Specifying a smaller air conditioner reduces tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide. Cool car shells also reduce the flow of heat from vehicle to atmosphere.
Cool-colored cars remain much cooler than darker-colored cars.
Cool-colored cars remain much cooler than darker-colored cars while parked on a sunny summer day. (Image courtesy of Heat Island Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Notes: 

8 EPA 2011. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2009. Table ES-8, Table 2-15.

9 Federal Highway Administration 2008. Highway Statistics. U.S. Department of Transportation. Washington, D.C.

10 Levinson R, Pan H, Ban-Weiss G, Rosado P, Paolini R, Akbari H. 2011. Potential benefits of solar reflective car shells: Cooler cabins, fuel savings, and emission reductions. Applied Energy.

Related Publications

2011

Levinson, Ronnen M, Heng Pan, George A Ban-Weiss, Pablo J Rosado, Riccardo Paolini, and Hashem Akbari. "Potential benefits of solar reflective car shells: Cooler cabins, fuel savings and emission reductions." Applied Energy 88.12 (2011) 4343-4357.