Hyundai tests new Nano Cooling Film to reduce cabin temps in hot weather
Hyundai has launched a new window tint called Nano Cooling Film, which is said to offer a “significant improvement in interior cooling performance” compared to conventional tint films, which in turn can potentially reduce the use of air conditioning.
The film significantly reduces the interior temperature in a vehicle, making occupants more comfortable and reducing energy consumption. Hyundai said the transparent film won't violate local regulations, as can happen with too-dark tint.
The film is expected to work best in hot, dry climates. Hyundai is testing it on some 70 vehicles in Lahore, Pakistan, where temperatures can exceed 50 C (122 F) in the summer. Hyundai said the film's cooling effect is optimized at hotter ambient temperatures.
The transparent film consists of three layers. The outer layer radiates heat at mid-infrared wavelengths from the vehicle's interior to the outside, while the two inner layers “reflect incoming heat at near-infrared wavelengths,” which reduces the heat entering the vehicle.
In addition to blocking the driver's vision at night, dark tint can “release absorbed heat into the vehicle,” Hyundai said.
In testing, the Nano Cooling Film reduced the interior temperature near the driver's head by up to 10.98 C when compared to conventional tint film. Compared to a vehicle without any window tint, the film reduced the temperature by up to 12.33 C.
When comparing the temperature of the dash pad, the film reduced the temperature by 15.38 C compared to regular tint, and up to 22 C for no window tinting. And note that those are the temperature
reductions, not the temperature inside the car.
For testing, the film has been applied to customers' cars at no charge to them, and Hyundai will use data from the pilot project to gauge its quality before putting the
film into mass production. The automaker first showed the window film at a media event in July 2023, with plans to test it in real-world conditions as part of its development of advanced material technologies.