Nissan Debuts New Self-Cleaning Paint on Leaf

Imagine a car that allows you to never visit the car wash. Think of the time you’d save by crossing this off your to do list, not to mention the money you’d save too. This technology might not be as futuristic as you’d think. Nissan has recently tested out new technology that makes paint that essentially cleans itself possible.

The Nissan Leaf is already a great new car thanks to its completely electric technology. You’ll save a lot on fuel costs when you drive this car, and it’s of course great for the environment, too. Though still in the early stages, this innovative paint technology hints at a future of clean cars in every sense of the word.

A New Technology

You may have heard about the Nissan Leaf as a clean car because it features an all-electric, zero transmission drive train. Now, Nissan is debuting new technology through the Leaf to make it clean in the traditional sense of the word. Innovative paint technology, tested on the Leaf, repels rain, mud, and regular dirt to keep the surface clean, without any added work for you.

How It Works

Nissan developed the Leaf’s exterior to show possibilities for production vehicles in the future. Nissan treated the exterior with paint specially engineered to be oleophobic and superhydrophobic. In simpler terms, the paint repels oils and water. Dubbed Ultra-Ever Dry, this paint cleans itself by creating a layer of air to buffer the paint from the surrounding environment. This prevents spray from the road and standing water from making marks on the surface of the Leaf.

Recent Testing and Results

Currently marketed and sold by UltraTech International Inc., the coating has undergone testing at Nissan’s Technical Center Europe. The results so far have been good. In tests for common uses like standing water, rain, frost, spray, and even sleet, the technology has shown promise.

From testing, the technology appears great at repelling water, causing droplets of water to easily roll off. This could lead to game-changing innovations like improved visibility in storms. Representatives from Nissan say that, in tests of various weather conditions, the technology has displayed incredibly clean results.

Plans for the Future

Currently, Nissan hasn’t announced any plans to apply the technology to vehicles as standard equipment. That said, Nissan continues to look at the coating technology for an aftermarket option in the future. And if you want to get your hands on it now, the North American demonstration features a white Nissan Leaf model.

The Nissan Leaf is already setting standards in the industry with its all electric, environmentally friendly technology. With its new self-cleaning paint technology, Nissan truly pushes the envelope of what’s possible for cars.

Though having this standard on all new cars may be further off in the future, the possibilities this technology offers are certainly exciting. In the not so distant future, you may get to drive a car that not only keeps the environment clean but cleans itself, keeping you away from the car wash for good.

Image from OEM site.

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