Hyundai reveals technology for ‘self-healing’ cars of the future

Got a small scratch on your car bumper? Do not worry, it would have fixed itself in less than two hours.

Self-healing coating technology helps a car to remove scratches or cracks on its own. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Got a small scratch on your car bumper? Do not worry, it would have fixed itself in less than two hours.

Forgot to charge your electric vehicle, but there is no charger nearby? It is okay, solar cells on every window of your car will charge it automatically.

Such “dream technologies” are what Hyundai Motor has been developing with nanotechnologies with the goal of commercializing them in two years at the earliest.

Nanotechnology is the production of new structures, materials and devices by controlling shape and size at the nanoscale. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, or about 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

“The technology innovation cannot come without an innovation in materials, which can determine the success of future mobility,” said Lee Jong-soo, head of Hyundai Motor’s Institute of Advanced Technology Development (IATP), during a press event introducing the technologies Thursday in central Seoul.

Self-healing coating technology helps a car to remove scratches or cracks in just two hours. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

The images show the process of a scratch being removed by itself. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

One of the most notable technologies introduced is a feature that coats a car with macromolecules that return to their previous form.

The so-called "self-healing coating" helps the car to remove scratches or cracks, on the exterior or cameras, on its own.

“Just like Wolverine and Terminator, the self-healing car can actually help increase the safety when cars are rapidly becoming autonomous these days,” said Yeo In-woong, a senior researcher at IATP.

It will only take two hours to completely remove the scratches and cracks, way shorter compared to rival automakers who have developed similar technology. Nissan applied a similar technology that self-paints the car, which takes around one week, while BMW’s recent technology requires one day.

“Also, the self-healing can be done at room temperature without applying heat,” Yeo added. “We are predicting we can actually apply the technology in cars within the next two or three years.”

A solar cell developed with Perovskite that can be installed in transparent windows [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor is also developing solar cells that can be applied to windows around the vehicle.

The existing solar cell is made with silicon and is usually installed on roofs. Hyundai is using Perovskite, a type of nanomaterial, to develop one that can be installed in transparent windows.

Perovskite achieves 30 percent more efficiency in turning light into electricity compared to silicon.

Hyundai is also in the process of developing tandem solar cells, which stack the Perovskite on top of the silicon solar cells, to increase the efficiency by 35 percent.

“There are some cases that silicon solar cells are applied at the roofs of EVs and hybrids,” said Kwon Jeong, a senior researcher at IATP. “But we are trying to apply them into doors, hoods and bonnets, and aim to make vehicles run at least 20 kilometers [12 miles] more.”

The indoor temperature stands at 39.6 degrees Celsius (103.3 degrees Fahrenheit) with traditional tint film, while it stands at 36.5 degrees Celsius with Hyundal's transparent cooling film. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Other introduced technologies include a cooling film that prevents the inside temperature of the car from going up even in the event of extreme external heat.

The film helps the inside temperature remain 7 degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit) lower than using the conventional tint film.

It eventually can reduce the use of air conditioners and reduce carbon emissions by 0.8 percent per year, Hyundai said.

“The introduced nano-based technologies are the result of continuous efforts of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s experts in materials,” said Vice President Hong Seoung-hyun. “Nanotechnologies will be the key to leading future mobility industry.”

Lee Jong-soo, head of Hyundai Motor’s Institute of Advanced Technology Development, introduces the company's latest nanotechnologies during a press event Thursday held in central Seoul. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]