Amid the coronavirus pandemic, keeping good hygiene has become very important now more than ever. After the outbreak, car use and sharing rates increased, as people prefer private cars instead of public transportation. Hyundai Motor Group announced that it would introduce solutions such as the use of ultraviolet light (UV) to sterilize automobile interiors.
Maintaining cleanliness of car interiors has become a major priority for owners as they could spread the coronavirus further. However, the process of disinfecting and sanitizing vehicles could be tedious, could take long and not effective.
Sterilizing Car Cabins
To automate and simplify the process, South Korea’s top automaker said it would introduce various technologies to improve automobile safety and hygiene.
Hyundai said that it would use UV light sterilization technology in the interior of its vehicles to effectively disinfect high-contact parts such as the steering wheel, seats, and dashboard.
Although UV light is proven to be effective, they are, however, harmful to human skin. Therefore, the UV lamps would only activate whenever the cars have no driver or passengers. The automaker also plans to use multiple lamps to allow the UV light to reach all the cabin spaces.
Hyundai also plans to use a UV photocatalyst module that could reduce carbon dioxide levels to eliminate floating germs inside the vehicle. The feature would significantly upgrade the quality of air in the interior.
Even before the coronavirus outbreak, Hyundai has given considerable attention to car hygiene. As the company expects cars to become more a part of daily living, Hyundai has been actively pursuing healthcare measures in its vehicles.
In March, the carmaker introduced various programs for its consumers, such as free cleaning when they visit customer centers.
Hyundai has also used antimicrobial elements such as anti-bacterial paint and leather in its vehicles’ interiors since 2011.
However, such technologies would increase production costs, which also increases car prices. Hyundai said that it would address the issue to make it more affordable.
