Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai revealed their newest innovation, the world’s first in-car sanitisation technology.
Plasma Care UVC
Earlier this week, Kia and Hyundai announced the development of their latest collaboration, the world’s first “mobility-dedicated hygiene technology.” Called the Plasma Care UVC system, this tech makes use of far ultraviolet-C (Far-UVC) light to sterilise surfaces and reduce odours even when the vehicle is occupied.
Previously, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Carnival, vehicle sterilisation was used within 255-280 nm wavelength bands in LED lights. While this range is effective in killing bacteria, it can be harmful to one’s skin and eyes upon direct exposure. Hence, this iteration could only be used in enclosed spaces such as vehicles, but without any passengers.
Now, Hyundai and Kia will use far-UVC light operates in 200-230 nm wavelength bands within plasma light bands in the vehicle. This type of light is often used in sterilisation technology in schools, hospitals, and household appliances. The tech utilises plasma lamps as the 200-230nm range wavelength cannot be effectively produced by LED lights.
Unlike 255-280 nm wavelengths, the lower range of the latest version is not strong enough to penetrate human skin or harm eyesight. Instead, the equally strong sterilisation power helps to reduce odours and microbial growth inside the vehicle.
Testing grounds
Kia and Hyundai’s engineers tested the Plasma Care UVC System with the Kia PV5 model at the Korean Automotive Technology Institute. The results revealed that the Plasma Care UVC eliminated 99.9 per cent of E. coli bacteria within 40 minutes.
In another test with the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), the engineers used an 8 cubic-meter space, around the size of a vehicle cabin. The results showed that airborne viruses within the space were eliminated by 96.8 per cent within 30 minutes of exposure.
A third study in collaboration with the Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Education Centre at Seoul National University confirmed that the Plasma Care UVC technology reduced pneumonia bacteria by 99.9 per cent within 30 seconds and complete removal of the bacteria within 60 seconds.
According to Senior Research Engineer Han Joo Jang, Plasma UVC Care will be installed in the brands’ future self-driving vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles.
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