"A black car gets hotter than a white car" : the idea seems obvious, but what does the data actually say?
Several automotive media outlets have conducted real-world tests over the past few months.
For an electric vehicle driver, the issue goes beyond simple comfort: air conditioning that works harder at startup also means less range for the first trip of the day.
To move beyond intuition and measure a real difference, Caradisiac parked two identical vehicles side by side during a heatwave afternoon, one in a light shade and the other in a dark shade, with the same glass surface area to isolate the effect of the color.
Result: after one hour of parking in direct sunlight, the temperature difference measured on the seats had already reached 2.5°C between the two vehicles.
After two and a half hours of exposure, this gap climbed to nearly 5°C. The authors of the test also provide a useful benchmark: above 40°C inside the cabin, the human body enters a danger zone—a reminder that even a light-colored car should never be used as a shelter in direct sunlight, even for a few minutes.
This temperature difference is explained by a simple physical principle, detailed in particular by Auto Performance in their analysis of the phenomenon : dark colors absorb a large portion of solar radiation and convert it into heat, while light colors reflect most of it, thereby limiting the heating of the bodywork and, subsequently, the cabin.
This reflective capacity of a surface has a name: albedo. The higher it is, as with white or light gray, the less heat the surface absorbs, and the less the cabin air temperature rises during hours of parking in the sun.
In an electric vehicle, the air conditioning draws directly from the same battery used for driving, which means that an overheated cabin requires more energy to cool down to a comfortable temperature, at the expense of the range available for the trip. This effect is particularly noticeable during the first few miles, when the air conditioning is running at full capacity to compensate for the temperature difference.
We detail all the best practices to limit this impact on your range in our article Air conditioning and heatwaves: our driver tips for preserving your electric vehicle's range.
A few simple habits can help reduce this temperature gap, regardless of your vehicle's color.
Whenever possible, choose to park in the shade or in a covered garage; it is the most effective solution for limiting heat buildup.
Use a sunshade on the windshield, where much of the heat enters, rather than relying solely on the air conditioning once you arrive.
Before starting, open the doors for a few moments to let the trapped hot air escape, then drive for a few minutes with the windows slightly down before turning the air conditioning on full blast: this simple step prevents overworking the system during the first few minutes of your trip, helping to preserve a bit more range.
It is obviously not the only factor to consider, but if you regularly drive in a very sunny region and often park in direct sunlight, a light color is objectively better for limiting cabin heat buildup and, consequently, the strain on your air conditioning when you start driving. It is a detail to keep in mind alongside more decisive criteria, such as the vehicle's real-world range or the availability of charging solutions along your daily route.
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According to a test conducted by Caradisiac, the difference reaches approximately 2.5°C after one hour of parking in direct sunlight, and nearly 5°C after two and a half hours of exposure.
Because of their lower albedo: dark colors absorb more solar radiation and convert it into heat, whereas light colors reflect a greater portion of it.
It draws from the same battery used for driving, which has a direct and immediate impact on available range, unlike a combustion vehicle where the effect only translates into higher fuel consumption.
Parking in the shade remains the most effective solution. If that is not possible, airing out the cabin for a few minutes before starting the car and turning on the air conditioning prevents overworking the system during the first few miles.
