Hyundai’s Next Gen Safety Feature – Cabin Light That Kills Germs

As compared to standard UV-C light, Hyundai’s use of Far-UVC does not cause any damage to humans

Among Hyundai’s numerous technology innovations, one focus area has been to create a cleaner and more hygienic cabin environment. A relevant example is the use of enclosed UV-C compartments in Hyundai’s newer models such as the Palisade and Santa Fe. With inbuilt ultraviolet light, these enclosed compartments can effectively eliminate germs from phones and other devices. Going forward, Hyundai is aiming for a more comprehensive sanitization system that can cover the entire cabin space.

Use of safer Far-UVC

It is common knowledge that standard UV-C exposure is harmful to humans. Standard UV-C has a wavelength of 254 nanometres (nm), which can easily penetrate human skin and eye cells. It can cause cellular damage and increase cancer risk. For sanitizing the entire cabin space, Hyundai is using the safer Far-UVC.

This operates at a shorter wavelength of 200 to 230 nm, making it safe for humans. Far-UVC does not have the ability to penetrate human skin or even the tear layer of the eye. It won’t have any impact even if the skin is broken or cut anywhere. While being safe for humans, Far-UVC is highly lethal for various bacteria and viruses. It works by damaging the microscopic DNA and RNA structures of these germs.

Developed jointly by Hyundai and Kia, this full cabin sanitization system is named Plasma Care UVC. While the technology itself is not new, modifications were needed to make it work in a vehicle. The system was made more robust to withstand vehicle vibrations, temperature changes and harsh driving conditions. Hyundai also had to ensure that the setup does not create a drain on the vehicle’s power supply.

Sanitization tests conducted using this system have shown impressive results. The Plasma Care UVC system was able to kill 96.8% of airborne viruses in just 30 minutes. The technology is even more effective in eliminating bacteria that cause pneumonia. Around 99.9% of these bacteria were eliminated in just 30 seconds. And 100% elimination was noted with exposure of 60 seconds. The system was also found effective against Escherichia coli (E. coli), eliminating 99.9% in around 40 minutes.

Practical applications

Hyundai and Kia are looking to introduce their Plasma Care UVC full cabin sanitization system with their purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) such as the upcoming Kia PV5. Other vehicles like school buses and delivery vans can also benefit from this sanitization technology. In fact, the system can be deployed in any passenger-carrying vehicle, including cabs and robotaxis.

In addition to eliminating harmful germs, the Plasma Care UVC system can also remove bad odours in the cabin. This is possible since Far-UVC rays have the power to chemically break down even the most stubborn compounds that create bad smells.

With Plasma Care UVC, the costs associated with standard sanitization and deep cleaning can be significantly reduced. Also, there won’t be any risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. While the Plasma Care UVC tech seems promising, it is not known when it will be available with a production model.