There’s an undeniable truth in the U.S.: a large number of Americans simply don’t like to clean.
As a result, countless innovations have been made in this nation that serve to mitigate or eliminate this pesky chore. It began with automatic clothes washers and dishwashers and then progressed to self-cleaning ovens and windows. There are even self-cleaning public bathrooms in some places.
So perhaps this represents the next logical step in our “cleaningless” evolution: the self-cleaning car.
The Future of Auto Care: Nissan’s Self-Cleaning Car
It’s true. Nissan has actually developed a prototype of a vehicle that essentially cleans itself. This feature, which is being trademarked as Ultra EverDry, is being tested on certain Nissan Note cars that were manufactured starting in October of last year. So-called “real world” testing will continue this year at the company’s European Technical Centre in England.
So how exactly does this car clean itself? It’s not the way you might be envisioning, with brushes and rags suddenly extending out of numerous spots on the car, which proceed to scrub and wipe down the body before magically retracting back into their hiding places. Nor does the car viciously shake itself like a dog at the push of a button in order to dislodge dirt and mud. (Though either of those would be pretty neat to see.)
Advanced Automotive Paint Technology
No, the secret to Nissan’s self-cleaning car lies in its paint – or more specifically, the coating that protects the paint. Scientists call it “super-hydrophobic” or oleophobic paint, which acts to repel dirt, mud, grime, and other substances before they have a chance to tarnish the vehicle’s exterior. A spokesman for the Japanese automaker says that the “nano-paint” technology in the Ultra EverDry effectively creates a layer of air between the vehicle’s paint and the outside environment, which prevents water, road spray, and particulates from marking up the car’s body.
Nissan officials envision this self-cleaning feature to be available on many of its future models as a non-standard option. Ideally, the option would be priced at around $750 – or about the same as a metallic paint job costs today. But the carmaker is optimistic that the task of washing your car will one day become “obsolete.”
Not the First Self-Cleaning Invention on Nissan Vehicles
People may not know that Nissan has already made strides in the self-cleaning automotive world. Specifically, the Nissan Note comes with a rear-view camera that cleans itself when the driver pushes a button. This feature incorporates sprayed water and compressed air to “wash and blow dry” the lens on the rear camera to make sure it is dirt-free, which also helps ensure that the rest of the Note’s safety sensors operate as well as they can, no matter what the conditions may be.
Even though they may not enjoy washing their vehicles, everyone in America can appreciate the satisfaction of having a clean car. But at Auto Insurance Specialists, we tend to focus more on the value of a clean driving record. People who do not have any moving violations or accidents in their driving history can potentially save a lot of money on their auto insurance premiums. And AIS has been pairing drivers with competitively-priced auto insurance policies for more than 40 years. You can see if there’s a cheaper insurance option for you simply by contacting AIS through our Web site or by calling (888) 772-4247.
Written by Chris Martin
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
