You’ve probably seen UV disinfection systems for cleaning smartphones and other small devices, but what about technology to clean an entire vehicle interior? Hyundai and Kia recently announced Plasma Care UVC, an in-vehicle sanitization system that uses a plasma lamp inside the cabin.
The automakers said the system sanitizes the interior and helps reduce unwanted odors. It uses far-ultraviolet C (Far-UVC) light and works with passengers on board. Far-UVC light has a limited skin penetration depth, so it’s safe for humans while penetrating the DNA in bacteria and viruses.
It might sound a little creepy at first, but this technology could present big upsides for those of us with kids who leave Cheerios and other detritus under their car seats. The lights cover more of the cabin than current in-vehicle scent delivery systems, and they target the cause of the odors, rather than masking them.
Hyundai and Kia evaluated the lighting system in real-world vehicles, finding that it removed 99.9% of bacteria and other contaminants. While Far-UVC sounds like a simple solution, the development process involved a lot more than adding a light to the cabin.
Research led the companies to use a plasma-based light source and to optimize the system for a compact footprint. An optical safety control helps filter light to further protect people, and the system was tested to ensure its long-term durability in a moving vehicle.
