New paint to say goodbye to car washes
The reading
The Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan has unveiled a prototype of a self-cleaning paint that means cars may no longer need washing. The new nanotechnology paint repels water, oil and other dirt the environment can throw at a car. The paint is called Ultra-Ever Dry and uses a process called nanopatterning. This coats the surface of something with tiny bumps and grooves that stop water and oil from sticking to it. Nissan said the paint has "responded well" to many weather conditions, including frost, rain, sleet and snow. The carmaker added that its engineers will continue testing the paint in the near future to see how close they can get to a product ready for market.
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Nissan's website says: "Washing a car can be a chore – and a costly one at that." However, it has no immediate plans to use the new paint as standard on its cars. It may offer it as an option in the future. Company spokeswoman Geraldine Ingham said the new paint is currently only being tested on the company's Note family car. She said: "The Nissan Note has been carefully engineered to take the stress out of customer driving, and Nissan's engineers are constantly thinking of new ways to make families' lives easier." She added: "We are committed to addressing everyday problems our customers face and will always consider testing exciting, cutting-edge technology like this incredible coating application.
Sources:
- http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-develops-first-self-cleaning-car-prototype
- http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/181370-nissans-self-cleaning-car-could-kill-off-car-washing-forever
- http://mashable.com/2014/04/25/self-cleaning-nissan-note/
