Honda develops ‘car mask’ to combat viruses

Honda has created a new air filter designed to stop viruses from entering your car and to destroy any that do manage to sneak inside.

Kurumaku, which literally means “car mask”, acts like a face mask for vehicles and Honda claims it can kill 99.8 percent of virus droplets.

The anti-viral product is fitted on top of regular air filters to prevent the spread of viruses and is now available on Honda’s N-Box Kei microcar in Japan.

It is expected Honda will eventually make the technology available on other models.

Kurumaku works by catching virus droplets on its special surface, reducing their shape and damaging them in the process. The product uses a zinc phosphate conversion system, the same technology carmakers use to prevent rusting on vehicles.

Honda says the new cabin air filter can remove 99.8 per cent of virus droplets within 15 minutes of turning on a car's air recirculation system, and 99.9 per cent after 24 hours.

One Kurumaku filter lasts about a year or 15,000km and costs about NZ$85.