Think twice about choosing a black vehicle

I have been noticing the thermometers placed around my house and they all read between 36 and 40 degrees celcius, which means that the average temperature has not risen so much during the last 10 years (1-2 degrees).

But because I feel it is especially hot this year, I have been hiding in air-conditioned rooms 24 hours a day. And on very hot days, I even switch on a small electric fan in my air-conditioned room.

The searing heat makes me think of topics related to automobiles, including fashion or the ideas of the designers that also cover the type of materials used in vehicles as well as the colour.

Although many people overlook this topic because they feel it is not important, in reality these small things do play a part in increasing safety and lowering costs.

For example, black automobiles are highly popular around the world, despite the fact that black accumulates more heat than light colours such as white.

For cold countries that have snow, black may be a highly suitable colour because the interior of a black vehicle is warmer when parked under sunlight. It is also more visible when located in a snowy environment.

But for Thailand, which is hot and dusty, black will cause the air-conditioner to work harder, resulting in higher fuel costs. It is also more difficult to spot at night or in rain, meaning that there are higher chances of accidents.

The same goes for interior colours, which is usually black for European-made cars that are sporty in character. There is a safety reason to this, as a black interior suffers from much less glare than lighter colours. So the direct benefit here is safety. However, there are also disadvantages. For example, when parked under direct sunlight for a long time, black or dark interiors will absorb more heat and it will take more time for the interiors to cool down after the air-conditioner is turned on. The higher heat level also results in a shorter lifespan for interior parts such as the upholstery and console.

If you want to use a black vehicle in Thailand, or a vehicle with a large number of interior features, it is important for you to avoid the heat and park in a covered area. If this is not possible, wind down the windows a little for ventilation or find other channels for ventilation.

Before you enter a hot car, open the doors fully for a minute or two to allow the heat to escape. You can also start the engine and switch on the air-con while waiting.

It is not a good idea to park a black car on the road or in areas with lots of dust, since the dust will show very clearly on black surfaces. In fact, many owners of black cars keep a duster in their car.

Although black vehicles may possess a charm and character, if you don’t have cheap labour to wash your car often or if you don’t like washing your car yourself, it can become a burden.

From my point of view, black is not a nice colour. By sitting in an expensive black car that is covered by dust, the person in the car would be seen as someone who likes to live with dirt and instantly loses his elegance. Trust me.