Whenever auto technology is mentioned, many people think immediately of self-driving cars, ecologically-friendly fuels, or even the newest on-board computer and entertainment system. Although these developments are bringing exciting changes into the automotive world, there is far more to automotive innovation than just what’s under the hood.
Nissan has recently unveiled a new painting technology that auto body professionals may want to pay attention to: self-cleaning car paint. Lauded as the ‘world’s first self-cleaning car’, its hatchback Note model is still testing out this new tech, but has provided more than a few promising performances that auto body technicians may be seeing in the future.
If you’re interested in a career in auto body repair, read on to find out what you should know about this exciting new paint technology.
Exploring the Science Behind This New Automotive Painting Technology
A self-cleaning car may sound too good to be true, but new scientific technologies have helped take it from idea to reality. Nissan Europe, in partnership with a UK-based nanotechnology company, has been experimenting with a super-hydrophobic paint known as Ultra-Ever Dry since 2014.
Check out the new automotive paint in action in this clip below:
Self-Cleaning Car Paint May Be the Key to a Cleaner Automotive Future
While the first testing of self-cleaning paint was done on the Nissan Note, the auto maker also decided to apply it to its LEAF model. The LEAF is an all-electric, zero-emissions model which means that, combined with this new automotive painting technology, Nissan has possibly introduced one of the world’s cleanest cars. This self-cleaning paint means that drivers won’t have to stop at the car wash—potentially saving more than a hundred litres of water per wash, around 4.7 million litres per year.
Although Nissan does not currently have plans to apply the self-cleaning paint to their lineup as a standard feature, it is under consideration to be offered as an aftermarket option, which means that might be able to add it to their vehicles the same way they would a premium set of tires or a custom car paint finish.
What Does This Mean for Future Auto Body Repair Technicians?
The new self-cleaning paint is a step forward for Nissan, especially in terms of developing eco-friendly cars. Greener design is gathering speed in the automotive world, and if you’re interested in a career as an auto body repair or refinishing prep technician, this new introduction of self-cleaning paint means you may see it in a garage near you after your auto body repair courses.
Many clients pride themselves on the appearance of their vehicle, and that includes the paint work. While Nissan’s new self-cleaning paint keeps a car’s surface from gathering dirt and debris, the manufacturer has also introduced a self-healing paint, a transparent coating which is made from the same component found in the shells of crustaceans like lobster, crab, and shrimp.
Combined, these two new painting technologies could have important impacts on auto refinishing prep technicians. If they become more widespread in the auto industry, auto technicians may not have to worry about repairing common cosmetic damage like scratches. This means there’s more time for bigger work such as collision repair, and even refinishing prep work like applying the self-cleaning paint itself, should it be sold as an aftermarket option.
Are you interested in getting more involved in professional auto body repair?
Contact Automotive Training Centres for more auto body repair career information.
