Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have unveiled Plasma Care UVC, a new far-ultraviolet C (Far-UVC) sanitisation system designed to clean vehicle cabins while occupants are present, positioning it as a cabin hygiene feature for autonomous driving and purpose-built vehicles.
The companies say the system uses Far-UVC light in the 200–230 nanometre range, targeting bacteria and viruses. They add that Far-UVC’s limited penetration depth is intended to remain within the outer skin layer, reducing the risks associated with conventional UV sterilisation when used around people. Hyundai and Kia also frame the technology as an odour-reduction tool by helping reduce microorganisms linked to cabin smell.
Engineering it for an occupied, automotive cabin
Hyundai and Kia describe the core development work as adapting Far-UVC to a compact, vibration- and temperature-hardened automotive environment. They say the solution includes:
- a plasma lamp capable of generating the required Far-UVC wavelengths,
- an optical filter intended to restrict emissions to the controlled wavelength range,
- and system hardening for real-world driving conditions.
They note that the technology is still in development and will require further validation before any production deployment.
Results from chamber tests, lab research, and real-vehicle trials
Hyundai and Kia report performance verification across multiple stages:
- In a simulated cabin chamber, testing by the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) found a 96.8% reduction in airborne viruses within 30 minutes.
- Joint work with Seoul National University reported 99.9% eradication of pneumonia-causing bacteria after 30 seconds of Far-UVC exposure (with complete eradication after 60 seconds under the tested conditions).
- In real-vehicle evaluation on a Kia PV5, the companies say they observed 99.9% eradication of E. coli after 40 minutes of irradiation in the tested setup.
A future-facing cabin hygiene concept for mobility
In a statement, Han Joo Jang, Senior Research Engineer at Hyundai Motor and Kia’s MPV & Small Sized Vehicle Interior Engineering Design Team 2, said Plasma Care UVC was developed for open vehicle cabin environments with passengers, aiming to move beyond sanitisation methods limited to enclosed spaces. The companies expect it to support cabin hygiene across future mobility scenarios, including autonomous and purpose-built vehicles.
Hyundai and Kia also released material demonstrating the technology’s potential using scenarios based on the Kia PV5, including a school shuttle context and a fruit-selling vehicle application.
