Hyundai, Kia develop in-car UV sterilization tech for passenger safety

Hyundai and Kia have unveiled an innovative "Plasma Care UV" technology designed to sterilize and deodorize vehicle interiors and air, even while passengers are onboard. This development addresses growing concerns about hygiene within vehicles, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era, offering a significant advancement in in-car sanitation.

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UV-B is safe, used in some Japanese hospitals and US schools. Passengers can sterilize the interior in real-time while inside the vehicle.

The new technology utilizes a plasma lamp to generate safe UV-B rays within the 200-230㎚ wavelength range. This differs from conventional UV-C sterilization (255-275㎚), which, while effective, can cause harm to human skin and eyes, limiting its application to small, unoccupied spaces like storage compartments. The UV-B rays produced by the Plasma Care system have been deemed safe for human exposure, allowing for continuous in-vehicle sterilization during operation.

Hyundai and Kia emphasize that miniaturizing this hospital-grade sterilization equipment for automotive use was a key challenge. Unlike many existing technologies that require passengers to exit the vehicle, Plasma Care UV operates in real-time. External verification confirmed its efficacy: a 40-minute operation in a Kia PV5 vehicle eliminated 99.9% of E. coli bacteria. In a simulated space, a 30-minute cycle reduced airborne viruses by 96.8%, with expectations of even faster virus inactivation for COVID-19.

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Compared to global automakers mostly researching sterilization tech that operates after passengers disembark, this is a significant difference.

During driving, the system adjusts light intensity for safety, but when parked, it focuses on high-contact surfaces like steering wheels and seatbelt buckles for thorough disinfection. The technology also ensures that interior materials are not discolored or degraded. Passengers can monitor the sterilization status in real-time via the vehicle's display, adding a layer of transparency and reassurance. This technology holds potential for a wide range of vehicles, from personal cars to specialized transport like ambulances and food delivery vans.

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We can expect even faster inactivation of the COVID-19 virus in a shorter period.