March 27, 2019—Future Jaguar Land Rover models could help stop the spread of colds and flu thanks to innovative ultraviolet light technology (UV-C) borrowed from the medical industry, where it has been used for more than 70 years.
By integrating UV-C, Jaguar Land Rover believes it could help to stop bacteria and harmful viruses, known as pathogens, from surviving in the cabin. UV-C is currently widely used for disinfecting water, filtering air and sterilizing surfaces by utilizing wavelengths of light between 200 – 280 nanometers.
Exposing pathogens to UV-C within the air conditioning system breaks down the molecular structure of the DNA, neutralizing them, the automaker says. Clean air is then released into the cabin.
Jaguar Land Rover is already actively seeking to neutralize pathogens in its latest generation HVAC systems. The current Four-zone Climate Control and Cabin Air Ionization system works by using high voltage to create trillions of nano-sized negatively charged particles (ions) coated in water molecules.
