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Have you ever been indecisive in the decision of what color car you like? Last November, a magazine with great influence revealed its annual list of the Best Inventions, which are changing how we live, work, play, and think about what's possible. One of these inventions was the "color changing car".

At the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, a famous car company showcased a concept car that can change colors. The surface coating of this car features e-ink that is most well-known from the displays of e-readers. It contains many millions of micro-capsules，each of which contains negatively charged white pigments（颜料） and positively charged black pigments. Depending on the chosen setting, stimulation by means of an electrical field causes either the white or the black pigments to collect at the surface of the micro-capsule, giving the car body the desired shade.

The color chosen for a car is an expression of the driver's personalities. It offers a completely new way of changing the vehicle's appearance in line with the driver's preferences, the environmental conditions or even functional requirements.

A variable exterior color can contribute to energy saving and wellness in the interior. This is done by taking into account the different abilities of light and dark colors when it comes to reflecting sunlight and the associated absorption of thermal energy. Heating of the vehicle as a result of strong sunlight and high outside temperatures can be reduced by changing the exterior to a light color. In cooler weather, a dark outer skin will help the vehicle to absorb noticeably more warmth from the sun. This would reduce the amount of energy the vehicle electrical system needs, lowering the fuel or electricity consumption. In the interior, the technology could, for example, prevent the dashboard from heating up too much. In electric cars, changing the color with the weather would thus increase the range of the car. Considering the recent push for electric vehicles, this color changing technology could be a game-changer.

"Digital experiences won't just be limited to displays in the future. There will be more and more connection between the real and virtual. With this concept car, we are bringing the car body to life, "says Frank Weber, a member of the board of this company.