Presenters of the program "Más Vale Tarde" on La Sexta shared a Japanese method to cool cars without using air conditioning on Thursday [1].
This technique offers a low-cost alternative for drivers to manage extreme summer heat while reducing fuel consumption associated with heavy air conditioning use.
Parking a vehicle in the sun can cause the interior to reach temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees Celsius [1, 2], turning the cabin into what La Sexta described as an "authentic oven" [1]. The Japanese method involves placing a frozen bottle of water, or another cold element, inside the vehicle to absorb heat [1, 3].
According to reports from MSN, this specific trick can reduce the interior temperature by between eight and 10 degrees Celsius [2]. The method focuses on passive cooling, allowing the frozen object to act as a heat sink while the car is stationary.
The strategy is designed to prevent the interior from reaching the highest temperature peaks [1]. By lowering the baseline temperature before a driver enters the vehicle, the subsequent use of the air conditioning system is less intensive [1].
Drivers are encouraged to use frozen water bottles because they provide a dual benefit: cooling the air and providing drinking water once the ice melts [3].
“Aparcar el coche al sol puede suponer que su interior alcance hasta 70 grados convirtiéndose en un auténtico horno.”
The adoption of passive cooling methods like the Japanese bottle trick reflects a growing consumer interest in energy efficiency and fuel reduction during extreme heat waves. While not a replacement for climate control, such methods mitigate the 'heat soak' effect in parked vehicles, reducing the mechanical strain on automotive HVAC systems and lowering immediate carbon emissions from idling engines.
