The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred automakers to prioritize cabin safety. Honda, a leader in automotive innovation, has developed 'Kurumaku'—an advanced air filter that captures virus-carrying microparticles before they enter the passenger compartment.
Masks and gloves are familiar in cars today, but social distancing inside a vehicle remains challenging. As reported by SlashGear on January 4, 2021, Honda unveiled 'Kurumaku,' an 'antivirus mask' for its cars. Far from a literal mask, it's a high-tech filter integrated into the ventilation system, treated with zinc phosphate via chemical conversion for superior performance.
Honda states this filter eliminates 99.8% of infected droplets circulating in a car within 15 minutes—when the ventilation is in recirculation mode. It surpasses many rivals' systems, which target only particles larger than 0.3 microns. Viruses on surfaces reportedly dissipate within a day.
The filter launches soon for Honda's N-Box Kei cars at about €50, with plans for broader rollout. Replace it annually or every 15,000 km. As the pandemic persisted into 2021, tools like this bolster defenses against coronavirus spread.
In April 2020, China deployed a small autonomous vehicle equipped with a thermal camera to remotely screen passersby for fevers—a notable intersection of autos and pandemic response.
