So, shortly my car may not be California legal

[ChrisV]

Simply due to it's color...

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/carb-so-crazy/

[NomisR]

Yeah, yet I cannot tint my front 2 windows over 70% to cool it down in CA.  So I can only use clear tint in reality.. great!

[Vinsanity]

well, I guess you should just paint your car like one of these, then:







It's a huge shame, though. That triple black Prius is probably the only Prius I'd ever drive, and ironically, CARB won't have any of it in the name of eco-friendliness

Fuck it, my next car is still going to be a satin black 2009+ CTS-V

[Vinsanity]

besides, I doubt that the energy required to cool the interior of a car is affected at all by it's exterior color. If anything, they should encourage limo tints on all windows except the windshield.

[ChrisV]

besides, I doubt that the energy required to cool the interior of a car is affected at all by it's exterior color. If anything, they should encourage limo tints on all windows except the windshield.

They're saying that a black car absorbs the heat more, so it takes more effort for the A/C to cool it down.

[Cookie Monster]

This is the hugest crock of BS I've ever heard.

[Vinsanity]

They're saying that a black car absorbs the heat more, so it takes more effort for the A/C to cool it down.

But I don't think the heat absorbed transfers into the interior. Am I wrong? In either case, it's insanely dumb. Dark window tints go a much longer way in keeping the car cool than paint color.

[NomisR]

But I don't think the heat absorbed transfers into the interior. Am I wrong? In either case, it's insanely dumb. Dark window tints go a much longer way in keeping the car cool than paint color.

Yet, they do not allow dark tinted windows on cars.. well now they allow the rears to be as dark as possible but not the front 2. 

Next thing you know, you cannot have black interiors too.   

[cozmik]

My understanding of the law isn't that is excludes black specifically, but that paints must have reflect a specific minimum amount of heat, uv, etc, 20% I believe, and that when the additives needed to do that are put into the black paint, it makes it brown instead. Once the paint manufactures develop the necessary additives to not discolor the paint, it won't be a problem.

It still sounds like BS to me, don't get me wrong. But they aren't outlawing black, black just can't meet the requirements at the moment.

[NomisR]

My understanding of the law isn't that is excludes black specifically, but that paints must have reflect a specific minimum amount of heat, uv, etc, 20% I believe, and that when the additives needed to do that are put into the black paint, it makes it brown instead. Once the paint manufactures develop the necessary additives to not discolor the paint, it won't be a problem.

It still sounds like BS to me, don't get me wrong. But they aren't outlawing black, black just can't meet the requirements at the moment.

We'll end up having excessive amount of discolored black car that becomes doo doo brown which started to have their resale value drop like a rock because they literally looks like shit

[The Pirate]

It still sounds like BS to me, don't get me wrong. But they aren't outlawing black, black just can't meet the requirements at the moment.

But there shouldn't be any requirements for color of a car (short of obvious environmental issues/health issues such as lead paint, etc.).  What is the difference in fuel consumption with A/C use between a black car and the same car in white?  Pretty freaking tiny, I bet.

I'm simply amazed (and disenchanted) that, with all the shit going on, something like this even sees the light of day.

[ChrisV]

It still sounds like BS to me, don't get me wrong. But they aren't outlawing black, black just can't meet the requirements at the moment.

The result is the same regardless of logical mechanism. If black can't meet the requirements, then the requirements cause black to be banned.

[hotrodalex]

That is so idiotic that it doesn't even deserve a comment.

[Eye of the Tiger]

WHAT IF YOU DON'T USE A/C AND YOU LIKE YOUR CAR TO KEEP WARM INSIDE IN THE WINTER WITHOUT HAVING TO RUN THE ENGINE? STUPID CALIFORNIA.

[MX793]

But I don't think the heat absorbed transfers into the interior. Am I wrong? In either case, it's insanely dumb. Dark window tints go a much longer way in keeping the car cool than paint color.

Actually, it does.

[hotrodalex]

Actually, it does.

It can't be enough to make a huge difference.

[giant_mtb]

Say you have a black cardboard box and a white cardboard box.  Within each (closed) box is a wireless temperature probe from which you have constant readings of internal temperature of the boxes.  Now, put both boxes into the sun and monitor the temperatures.  Which box is warmer?  The black box or the white box?

[Cookie Monster]

Say you have a black cardboard box and a white cardboard box.  Within each (closed) box is a wireless temperature probe from which you have constant readings of internal temperature of the boxes.  Now, put both boxes into the sun and monitor the temperatures.  Which box is warmer?  The black box or the white box?

Cardboard doesn't conduct heat as well as metal.

Still, this is probably the worst idea I've ever heard.

[MX793]

It can't be enough to make a huge difference.

Most new cars don't consume that much more fuel when the AC is on vs off, so no, it doesn't make that much difference.  On top of that, there are other reasons to run the AC besides keeping the car cool.  Mine runs almost all winter and much of the late fall and early spring with the defrost.

[giant_mtb]

Cardboard doesn't conduct heat as well as metal.

Still, this is probably the worst idea I've ever heard.

Okay, so...instead of cardboard boxes you have metal boxes.

Why is it the worst idea you've ever heard?  It will simply show that the inside of a black box is going to be much warmer than the inside of a white box because black absorbs more heat and thus transfers that heat to the air within the box itself.  The white box reflects more light, absorbs less energy, and is thus cooler on the inside.

Physics? 

[MX793]

Cardboard doesn't conduct heat as well as metal.

Still, this is probably the worst idea I've ever heard.

That further proves his point.  Metal conducts heat very well, which means heat absorbed into the metal gets transfered into the car more quickly (since the body is attached to the frame which is attached to the interior bits).

[Cookie Monster]

Okay, so...instead of cardboard boxes you have metal boxes.

Why is it the worst idea you've ever heard?  It will simply show that the inside of a black box is going to be much warmer than the inside of a white box because black absorbs more heat and thus transfers that heat to the air within the box itself.  The white box reflects more light, absorbs less energy, and is thus cooler on the inside.

Physics? 

Oh, I see what you're saying now.

And I was talking about banning black cars as the worst idea I've ever heard of, not your post.

[NomisR]

Cardboard doesn't conduct heat as well as metal.

Still, this is probably the worst idea I've ever heard.

So, we just start making cars out of cardboard.. problem solved! 

[giant_mtb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBn4oqgCbfQ

Which would you rather be inside of?  The white jacket (white car) or the black pants (black car)?

[Galaxy]

So is Alaska going to ban white cars? After all at -50 every little bit of heat absorbtion is helpful.

[NomisR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBn4oqgCbfQ

Which would you rather be inside of?  The white jacket (white car) or the black pants (black car)?

Grey car.

[Cookie Monster]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBn4oqgCbfQ

Which would you rather be inside of?  The white jacket (white car) or the black pants (black car)?

If both the jacket and pants have A/C then I don't care.

[giant_mtb]

If both the jacket and pants have A/C then I don't care.

K.

[Cookie Monster]

K.

[MX793]

So is Alaska going to ban white cars? After all at -50 every little bit of heat absorbtion is helpful.

Heating the car makes use of otherwise wasted heat, so you're making it more efficient.