Jaguar Land Rover is leading the fight against the spread of superbugs with the help of ultraviolet (UV-C) technology.
By integrating UV-C into future vehicles’ air conditioning
system, it will break down the pathogen’s molecular DNA structure, neutralising
them and releasing clean air into the cabin.
Despite being used by the medical industry for more than 70
years to help disinfect water and sterilise surfaces, Jaguar Land Rover is
looking to use the technology as part of its vision to create a tranquil
sanctuary inside each of its luxury vehicles.
Dr Steve Iley, Jaguar Land Rover’s Chief Medical Officer,
said there is a clear opportunity to better utilise cars for administering
preventative healthcare, as the average motorist spends more than 300 hours per
year behind the wheel.
“In the colder months infections are spread more easily,” he
adds. “It’s reassuring to know that in your car at least, you can be confident
that harmful pathogens are being neutralised.
“The implementation of individual wellbeing measures as part
of our ‘tranquil sanctuary’ research promises to not only improve quality of
life for our customers but in this case, offers clear advantages in reducing
pathogen spread – particularly as we move towards shared mobility solutions.”
Trials run by medical equipment supplier Tru-D has suggested
that UV-C could be even more effective as it has been shown to cut the
transmission of four major superbugs by up to 30 percent, including MRSA and
C.difficile.
Dr Hellmut Münch, CEO at Medical Enzyme Research Association
and immunology expert said the rise of superbugs and allergens are the biggest
threats to humans, adding:
“It is important that we continue to take an innovative look
at how we can adapt our environment to help prevent the spread of the most
harmful pathogens – which is why this research is paramount.”
As part of Jaguar Land Rover’s move towards a self-driving
future, it is looking to develop a wide range of driver and passenger wellbeing
features, including reducing motion sickness in vehicles.
But already our cars have technology that can combat pathogens,
allergens and odours. The latest generation four-zone climate control and cabin
air ionisation systems work by using high voltage to deactivate the pathogens
by making them larger particles which are removed from the air as they are
brought back into the filter.
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