[News Article] Hyundai Motor unveils nanotechnology vision
Hyundai Motor
unveils nanotechnology vision
By Byun Hye-jin, The
Korea Herald - Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it has developed six kinds of
nanotechnologies that will be key drivers of growth in future mobility, ranging
from autonomous driving cars to software defined vehicles. Nanotechnology
creates new materials by synthesizing or fabricate arrays of materials that are
1 billionth of a meter in width. “Only when we secure
top level materials technology in mobility can we improve the performance and
durability of car parts and vehicles which will offer a competitive edge in the
fast-evolving future mobility market,” said Lee Jong-soo, vice president of the
institute of advanced technology development at Hyundai Motor Group, during a
press conference in Seoul. The first
nanotechnology material presented by the company was self-healing polymer
coating, which removes scratches or water from cameras and lidar sensors on
self-driving cars. Based on multiple
sets of self-healing mechanisms, unlike a one-off chemical reaction, it can
constantly help the car to restore its detecting device, spotting obstacles or
pedestrians on roads more accurately, according to Yeo In-hong, a researcher at
institute of advanced technology development at Hyundai Motor Group. The technology
enables the restoration process in two hours under ambient temperatures. The
process takes a day during freezing temperatures of under minus 10 degrees
Celsius, because the chemical reaction tends to slow down in cold temperatures.
The technology is expected to be applied to mass-produced cars between 2025 to
2026. Secondly, oil
capsule polymer coating technology -- a spinoff from the self-healing
nanotechnology -- slows down the friction and wearing down of car parts.
Hyundai claims this technology to be more than 50 percent effective compared to
other companies' products. By this year, the
carmaker plans to apply the oil capsule coating to Hyundai and its smaller
affiliate Kia’s car chassis -- in particular, the drive shaft -- to reduce the
impact of the operating devices on the car. The third
nanotechnology presented was the solar cell, a key energy source that can
reduce carbon emissions. Solar cells will be used via larger windows to power
up purpose-built vehicles, eco-friendly cars with a wide range of
customizations to cater to diverse lifestyles. Unlike existing
solar cells which use silicon, the Hyundai-made solar cells are transparent,
using naturally occuring perovskite composed of calcium titanium oxide mineral
which absorbs 10 times more solar energy. The carmaker’s
fourth nanotechnology is the tandem solar cell, which attaches a perovskite
solar cell to a silicon-based solar energy cell. Tandem solar cells are
reported to have higher cell efficiency than silicon cells and even
perovskite-based ones. Applying the cells
to EVs roofs, hood and doors will enable 30 percent solar cell efficiency. For
instance, it can generate 30 watts of electric energy output after absorbing
100 W of solar energy, the company said. It can also add 20 to 40 kilometers of
driving range. As for
nanotechnologies aimed to improve the driving experience, Hyundai touted its
seat pressure sensor using a carbon nanotube, known for its high level of
durability and elasticity. It reduces power consumption by up to 50 percent and
saves 140 W of energy for EVs by transferring heat to the contact surface of a
car seat. The sensor even
analyzes respiratory rhythm and heart rate, showing huge potential in the
health care market, the company said. Lastly, Hyundai’s
transparent radiative cooling film will be applied to cars’ windows to cool
down cars while reducing carbon emissions. A car with radiative cooling film
windows decreased the inside temperature by 6.89 C compared to those with
low-emissivity films. Hyundai and its
affiliate firm Kia have conducted materials research since the 1970s. Starting
from the late 1990s, the companies have set out a wide range of research
projects in advanced materials. Source: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230720000598&np=1&mp=1
2023.07.21
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