Is California planning to ban black cars?

Legislators in California are considering proposals that could result in black cars being banned as part of efforts to curb air conditioning use and improve fuel efficiency.

The California Air Resources Board (Carb) has set out proposals for consultation that would require all car paints and coatings to achieve 20 per cent solar reflectivity.

In a presentation delivered earlier this month, Carb said that the legislation - which would also require car windshields to reflect at least 30 per cent of the solar spectrum - would help keep cars cool and reduce demands on in vehicle air conditioning, cutting annual carbon emissions by around one million tonnes by 2040.

It added that compliance with the rules would cost between $39 (£27) and $128 per vehicle.

If adopted, the legislation - which has been modelled on similar standards for buildings that have successfully helped reduce energy use - would be phased in from 2012 and take full effect by 2016.

A number of motor industry blogs criticised the proposals, arguing they would equate to a ban on black cars.

WardsAuto.com reported that early tests had shown that the pigments and chemicals required to improve the reflectivity of black paint result in colours that are being referred to by the auto industry as "mud-puddle brown".

The Carb report also notes that "jet black remains an issue", raising the prospect of a ban on all black cars when the legislation is debated by the board this summer.