en.Wedoany.com Reported - Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have launched "Plasma Care UVC," which they claim is the world's first disinfection technology usable in an open cabin with passengers present. The system utilizes plasma lamps to generate far-ultraviolet C (Far-UVC) at specific wavelengths, disinfecting the cabin environment and reducing odors.
The technology employs far-UVC in the 200 to 230 nanometer (nm) wavelength range. Compared to conventional UVC ultraviolet light at 255 to 280 nm, this specific wavelength has limited penetration depth into human skin, remaining only in the stratum corneum without damaging deeper cells. Bacteria and viruses lack such a protective layer, allowing far-UVC to penetrate and disrupt their DNA structure. The system targets bacteria and microorganisms while removing odor-causing substances produced during their reproduction, thereby improving cabin air quality.
Applying far-UVC technology to vehicle cabins presents challenges such as confined spaces, high-density electronic components, and close proximity to passengers. Hyundai Motor and Kia developed a dedicated plasma lamp as the light source, capable of generating wavelengths of 200 to 230 nm that are difficult to achieve with traditional LED technology. The system was miniaturized and optimized for energy efficiency, as well as durability against driving conditions such as vibration and temperature fluctuations. Additionally, a specialized optical filter is applied to emit only controlled far-UVC wavelengths for safety protection.
To verify the technology's effectiveness, Hyundai Motor and Kia conducted multiple tests in collaboration with various certification and research institutions. In a space disinfection evaluation led by the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), tests were performed in an 8-cubic-meter controlled chamber simulating a cabin environment, showing a 96.8% reduction in airborne viruses within 30 minutes. For component-level assessment, joint research with Seoul National University's Agriculture and Life Sciences Venture Center demonstrated that pneumonia-causing bacteria were eliminated by 99.9% after 30 seconds of far-UVC exposure and completely eliminated after 60 seconds. In real-vehicle evaluations, the technology was applied to the Kia PV5 model, and collaborative tests with the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH) confirmed a 99.9% elimination rate of E. coli after 40 minutes of exposure under test conditions.
Hyundai Motor and Kia stated that they will continue rigorous technical verification in accordance with international safety standards to prepare for applying the technology to mass-produced vehicles. Han Joo Jang, Senior Research Engineer at Hyundai Motor and Kia's MPV and Small Vehicle Interior Engineering Design Team 2, noted that Plasma Care UVC was developed for open cabin environments with passengers present and is expected to provide cabin hygiene solutions in future mobility scenarios, including autonomous driving and purpose-built vehicles (PBVs).
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