Volvo lifepaint

[Hyena]

I just came across this stuff which could be quite good for those who ride at night and want to increase their visibility.
I'm guessing it's largely a marketing / PR move from Volvo given the statement: Life Paint is part of Volvo’s bold vision that, “By 2020 no person will be killed, or seriously injured, by a new Volvo.” but still.

Volvo believe “the best way to survive a crash is not to crash”, but rather just than being truism-talking jerks, they’ve created a product to help cyclists be safe and visible at night.
Life Paint looks like a can of spray paint, and is applied in the same fashion. However rather than coating a surface in sticky, messy paint, Life Paint is a reflective spray which is invisible by day, but lights up under the glare of a car’s headlights.

Volvo claim a single coat of their ‘paint’ lasts up to one week, but since the substance is water-based it will easily wash off.

Furthermore, as can be seen below, it not only sticks to clothes, but also bags, shoes, leashes and helmets.

Oddly enough, while the bikes above light up, Volvo don’t mention the product actually working on bikes – although they say it’ll do just fine on prams.)

The Swedish car company created Life Paint in association with fellow Swedish company Albedo100, a startup that creates reflective sprays.

“Life Paint is a unique spray, different to other reflective products on the market,” said Anders Wellving from Albedo100.

“When you apply it to a surface the reflective particles will stick together with a special adhesive making the spray invisible by day, but light up at night in the glare of headlights.”

Life Paint is part of Volvo’s bold vision that, “By 2020 no person will be killed, or seriously injured, by a new Volvo.”

For the time being, Life Paint is only available in a few select stores in the UK, but if it’s successful there are plans to roll it out nationally and abroad.

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[bowlofsalad]

That's funny, I was looking at/for this stuff yesterday while looking around for valve stem lights. However, I wasn't able to actually find a product called lifespray. As you quoted, this product is made in collaboration with some other company, I guess they do the selling, of some similar but alternatively named product, 'reflective spray'.

http://albedo100.co.uk/reflective_sprays/info/shop.html

I don't know which of these 4 is the most ideal for the application of spraying an electric bicycle, the one that would go on metal doesn't seem like it goes on transparent.

After a tiny bit more digging, it seems their shop only ships to the UK and Ireland. There is a way to buy on amazon, I am not sure if they will ship globally, they also only sell seemingly one variety, the animal type. I guess it's good for spraying horses, hows it gonna work on the steel variety? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Albedo100-Reflective-Spray-Horse-Pets/dp/B00JM7PYHG/

 

[amberwolf]

That'd be nice stuff to have to spray all my bikes/trikes with, if it was available cheaply around here.

It seems to be a little like the 3M "invisible" reflective tape.

 

[peters]

I'd prefer not to paint my clothes and bike with strange chemicals...
I suppose Volvo supports it because they are trying to find means to improve the automatic traffic recognition systems (or how it is called) in the future cars, and increasing visibility is an option.

 

[amberwolf]

It washes off? I didnt' see that in the original posts. (I can't access the links)

Yeah, that's really stupid, especially since the most use for extra visibility this would have would be IN THE RAIN.

Why not just use soemthing that makes it permanent?

For instance, include whatever little particles do the reflection inside a normal clearcoat of paint?

 

[The fingers]

Instant ghost bike. People used to spray clear reflective paint on their license plates to defeat the flash of red light runner cameras.

 

[Ch00paKabrA]

Around here, the cross walks are painted white and then they throw these micro opalescent beads on the wet paint and they are highly reflective, I don't know what they are called but a guy from the DPW gave me a large Mayo jar filled with the powder but I haven't quite figured out how to use it on the bike. It is interesting because if you just put some on a table out in the sun, it is surrounded by a rainbow and the actual particles get extremely white.

Any one know what that stuff is called?

 

[MadRhino]

One can use fluorescent oil. It is available in many colors and would last much more than a week. Might not be as friendly to all kind of materials though. I spilled some drops on a leather jacket 5 years ago, although invisible in the daytime they still shine bright yellow in the night.

 

[cal3thousand]

Around here, the cross walks are painted white and then they throw these micro opalescent beads on the wet paint and they are highly reflective, I don't know what they are called but a guy from the DPW gave me a large Mayo jar filled with the powder but I haven't quite figured out how to use it on the bike. It is interesting because if you just put some on a table out in the sun, it is surrounded by a rainbow and the actual particles get extremely white.

Any one know what that stuff is called?

Yeah, they are reflective glass beads

I bought some awhile back. Fun stuff, but it won't be good for things like clothes unless you can impregnate the fabric with some adhesive and the beads.

BTW, this Volvo stuff is on trial in the UK to a select group of bike shops. It's going to be given out free and if the feedback is good, they will move forward with production

 

[Hyena]

Yeah for repeated application it's a bit pointless, unless they make it dirt cheap and it just becomes a habit like putting on sunscreen (this may not be a good comparison for many of the readers here in climates that aren't often hot and sunny )
It would be good to put into or under the clear coat on bikes and could be easily done. Infact it'd be a good feature for big bike companies to take on, especially on their hybrid/commuter range

 

[Ypedal]

would make good covert-op grafiti paint !!

 

[Arlo1]

I want to see what happens with this. I tried to find it online and Ebay had some cans for $100 pluss!