Do Black Cars Get Particularly Hot in Summer?
2 Answers
Black cars tend to get hotter in summer because black absorbs all photon colors. Since sunlight contains not only the seven colors but also infrared heat radiation, black absorbs heat as well, making the car slightly warmer. Here are some tips for using car air conditioning effectively: 1. Ventilate before turning on the AC: After the car has been exposed to the sun for a long time, open all four doors and the sunroof to allow air circulation for 3 minutes. This quickly lowers the interior temperature, making the AC more effective when turned on. 2. Use the recirculation mode wisely: The recirculation mode blocks outside hot air, creating a sealed space inside the car. This allows the interior air to circulate quickly under the AC's effect, achieving rapid cooling. Once the interior temperature has dropped, it's recommended to switch to fresh air mode every 30 minutes to purify the air inside, then switch back to recirculation after 5 minutes. 3. Turn off the AC in advance: Shut off the air conditioning 5 minutes before parking. This protects the engine and saves fuel.
This issue really deserves a thorough discussion! With five years of driving a black car, I’ve experienced it deeply. After sun exposure, touching the door with the back of your hand will make you pull back from the heat—the dashboard gets so hot you could fry an egg on it. Once, I tested it: after parking in the open at noon for three hours, a white car in the same neighborhood had a surface temperature of 39°C, while my black car soared to 43°C. The steering wheel cover got so hot I had to wear gloves to hold it, and turning on the AC took about ten minutes before the car cooled down. Later, I added an aluminum foil sunshade for the windshield and installed top-tier heat-insulating film, which improved things significantly. The principle is simple: darker colors absorb more heat, while lighter colors reflect sunlight. In summer, I always wear cooling sleeves when driving, otherwise my arms get painfully sunburned.
