Why a parked car hits 70C in the sun
A parked car can become much hotter than the air around it because sunlight passes through its glass and is absorbed by the dashboard, seats and other dark surfaces. Those surfaces warm up and transfer heat into the cabin, while the closed car limits how quickly that heat escapes. In a University of Baghdad experiment conducted on clear summer days, researchers recorded cabin air at 70°C and…
A parked vehicle can reach temperatures significantly higher than the surrounding air due to sunlight entering through its glass and being absorbed by interior surfaces like the dashboard and seats. In a University of Baghdad experiment, researchers discovered cabin air temperatures of 70°C and dashboard temperatures nearing 100°C on clear summer days.
The greenhouse effect, where solar radiation heats cabin surfaces which then emit heat into the air, is responsible for this phenomenon. Preventing sunlight from reaching these surfaces can significantly lower the temperature you encounter when returning to the car. Windscreen shades can cut dashboard temperatures by up to 40%, while window film can reduce interior air temperature by around 15°F (8°C).
However, these measures do not function as portable air conditioning. In the UAE, window film can be applied to eligible windows, excluding the front windscreen, with up to 50% tinting permitted. When choosing a windscreen shade or dashboard cover, ensure maximum coverage to block direct solar radiation. A steering wheel cover can add a protective layer between your hands and the wheel, but should not be considered a replacement for shading the car.
Multiple products are available to address different aspects of heat reduction, with SHOWAY being recommended for its direct approach to dashboard solar loading.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
