[trackbird]

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/califor...ing-black-cars/

Found that on another board this morning. I think it's finally time to load up the trailers and get off of the island. Wow. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

In a move that will likely get California's consumers in a huff, impending legislation may soon restrict the paint color options for Golden State residents looking for their next new vehicle. The specific colors that are currently on the chopping block are all dark hues, with the worst offender seemingly the most innocuous color you could think of: Black. What could California possibly have against these colors, you ask? Apparently, the California Air Resources Board figures that the climate control systems of dark colored cars need to work harder than their lighter siblings – especially after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Anyone living in a hot, sunny climate will tell you that this assumption is accurate, of course. In fact, legislation already exists for buildings that has proven successful at reducing the energy consumption of skyscrapers.

So, what's the crux of the problem... can't paint suppliers just come up with new, less heat-absorbent dark paints? According to Ward's, suppliers have reportedly been testing their pigments and processes to see if it's possible to meet CARB's proposed mandate of 20% solar reflectivity by 2016 with a phase-in period starting in 2012, and things aren't looking good. Apparently, when the proper pigments and chemicals are added to black paint, the resulting color is currently being referred to as "mud-puddle brown." That doesn't sound very attractive, now does it? Windshields, backlights and sunroofs are also slated to get reflective coatings starting in 2012.

When we first heard of this issue, an internal debate immediately began as to whether this might be an elaborate early April Fool's joke, but it isn't.

[00 Trans Ram]

OK, I'm not an engineer, but I did drive by a Holiday Inn Express last night.

It says that "climate control systems have to work harder to cool the cars". I'm not sure I agree, and here's why:

99.9% of people run their A/C all the time. If the car is hot, it's on. Once the car gets comfy, they turn down the fan, but it's still on. Even when it's cold and they're using the heater, that little, blue "A/C" button is still pushed in. That means that the compressor is engaged. Everything I've ever learned about HVAC systems says that the comrpessor is the part that sucks power from the engine. The fans are electric, so they do nothing but suck a few amps/watts/volts/whatever which the alternator is already producing.

Now, I daresay that the same amount of people driving white cars leave their A/C button "on" while driving as those in black cars. So, they're sucking the same amount of power from the engine. I'll buy that the guy in the white car has his fan on "low", while the guy in the black car has it on "high" - but they are both consuming the same amount of energy from the engine.

So, if both cars are wasting the same amount of energy, why is the black car being punished?

[Eskimo]

that little, blue "A/C" button is still pushed in. That means that the compressor is engaged. Everything I've ever learned about HVAC systems says that the comrpessor is the part that sucks power from the engine. The fans are electric, so they do nothing but suck a few amps/watts/volts/whatever which the alternator is already producing.

Well, kinda.. The compressor does cycle on and off, and the alternator does put more load on the engine depending on how much amperage it's being asked to produce.

Wasn't it Mythbusters that showed that the white car wasn't really that much cooler than the black car though? something like less than 10° when the interior was over 140 on both cars...

Thing is, 2 identical cars really only have the roof panel heating the interior... In the case of an f-body (Here's the f-body content!), especially one with t-tops, I can practically cover all the painted surface that goes over the interior with a single piece of masking tape! our cars are all glass! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)