CARB 2016 and Tints, Paint
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Seattle
C-300, XC70, Wrangler
CARB 2016 and Tints, Paint
New information out recently suggests that California's CARB requirements for 2016 will require reflective automotive paint and glass in all new cars, and in repairs made to those cars.
There is even a suggestion that some colors, e.g., BLACK, will not be allowed because they just absorb too much solar radiatiion. Other dark colors are also at risk. Someone asked me yesterday why "all" the cars in Japan are white!
The problem appears to be that a car sitting in a parking lot in the sun absorbs heat, and therefore requires more fuel to cool off when you get in. Obviously you cold park in the shade, or a shelter. Rolling down the window is not a great option (crime!).
The approach at the moment is to use solar reflective paints and glazing to reduce the amount the car heats up when idle. This is a baseline requirement, you could also add active systems such as a fan to move hot air out, or passive approaches such as the venting sunroof.
Black appears to be a color that just doesn't want to be solar reflective. Hmm, wonder why?
So, what are we to do? Will the C still be a viable car in 2016, will it be a W205 or something else? What about retrofitting: vinyl wraps and solar reflective tints. CARB wants 70% visible through the glass, so just going dark isn't enough.
Maybe all you Californians can move to N. Dakota. I hear it's still snowing up there!
There is even a suggestion that some colors, e.g., BLACK, will not be allowed because they just absorb too much solar radiatiion. Other dark colors are also at risk. Someone asked me yesterday why "all" the cars in Japan are white!
The problem appears to be that a car sitting in a parking lot in the sun absorbs heat, and therefore requires more fuel to cool off when you get in. Obviously you cold park in the shade, or a shelter. Rolling down the window is not a great option (crime!).
The approach at the moment is to use solar reflective paints and glazing to reduce the amount the car heats up when idle. This is a baseline requirement, you could also add active systems such as a fan to move hot air out, or passive approaches such as the venting sunroof.
Black appears to be a color that just doesn't want to be solar reflective. Hmm, wonder why?
So, what are we to do? Will the C still be a viable car in 2016, will it be a W205 or something else? What about retrofitting: vinyl wraps and solar reflective tints. CARB wants 70% visible through the glass, so just going dark isn't enough.
Maybe all you Californians can move to N. Dakota. I hear it's still snowing up there!
