Go to » Disinfecting with fresh air // DIY disease killer // Time to take action

Your car is a breeding ground for filth. Other passengers, pets, and air seeping in from outside bring allergens, viruses and mould spores which threaten to infect your body and trigger allergic reactions. Not all cars are defenceless though: the latest models from Japan include ingenious technology to cull the causes of coughs and sneezes. This car kills bacteria.

How does Plasmacluster technology work? Plasmacluster generators produce positively charged H+ and negatively charged O2- ions which attach themselves to microbes and viruses in the air. When they meet on the surface of a bacterial or viral cell they bond, forming highly oxidative OH radicals which attract hydrogen from within the cell itself. As the hydrogen is drawn out of the bacteria, its membrane begins to break down. Without a membrane, it can’t survive or grow. Plasmacluster inhibits the growth of bacteria and stopps the spread of airborne impurities.

Since 2009 Nissan, Daihatsu and Toyota have fitted their cars with technology to add aromas to the cabin air supply, alternate airflow at random to create a breezy effect that stimulates senses, and intelligently cool the warmer parts of a car as the sun passes overhead, but more impressive is the Plasmacluster air-purification system they all share.

A natural disinfectant

Built around technology from Sharp, the system doesn’t filter the air or use chemical cleaners, but instead generates positive and negatively charged ions which attach themselves to microbes and viruses in the air. The ions then bond, forming highly oxidative OH radicals which suck the hydrogen out of the impurity they’re attached to, killing it and leaving it to decay harmlessly.

It might sound like science fiction, but this airborne attack on germs is actually a naturally occurring reaction. In fact, your body already does the same thing internally.

The Plasmacluster system produces the same positive H+ and negative O2- ions that our own immune system does when fighting off an infection, but instead of cleaning your bloodstream of infections once they’ve occurred, Plasmacluster purifies harmful toxins in the air before you have a chance to breathe it.

Install it yourself

And the technology’s not solely confined to the car manufacturers mentioned. If you’re keen to clean the air in your own car Sharp now manufactures stand-alone Plasmacluster purifiers. They’re neatly designed to fit into a cup-holder, and run from a standard cigarette-lighter socket. Next time you clean the car, think about the air inside as well as the finish outside.

See it in action

Since Plasmacluster technology is invisible, it’s hard to demonstrate how it works. But check out this video: Toyota have a neat animation explaining how Plasmacluster latches on to germs and purifies the inside of a car.