□ An air-purifying vehicle technology has been developed that removes fine particulate matter from surrounding air while driving and captures brake wear particles before they are released. The technology uses the vehicle’s existing structure to purify roadside air and directly capture brake wear particles at the source. As one of the key research achievements of AirFive, one of KIMM’s Five Flagship Brands, the technology enables vehicles to serve as mobile air-purification systems in urban areas.
□ A research team led by Dr. BangWoo Han, Head of the Department of Urban Environment Research of the Eco-friendly Energy & Environment Research Division at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Seog-Hyeon Ryu), developed an air-purifying vehicle technology that reduces both roadside fine particulate matter and brake wear particles. The technology consists of ▲ a grille-type electrostatic precipitation system, ▲ a caliper-type brake dust collection system, and ▲ a wireless power transfer system for air purification while parked. The systems were installed on different vehicle models, including the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Sonata, to verify performance.
□ The grille-type electrostatic precipitation system electrically charges fine particles entering through the vehicle grille and attracts them to collection plates. Carbon fibers far thinner than a human hair enable efficient particle collection with low electrical current while minimizing ozone generation. During driving, the system uses airflow generated as the vehicle moves without requiring a separate high-power blower. When parked in a space equipped with wireless power, the vehicle’s existing radiator fan can be used to purify surrounding air.
□ Brake wear particles are captured at the source by a collection device installed behind the brake caliper. Particles naturally acquire an electric charge through friction between the brake pads and discs, allowing them to be collected without a separate particle charger or suction fan. Under the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC), the system captured 22.2 mg of brake wear particles per kilometer per vehicle, equivalent to approximately 10 g over 450 km.
□ Conventional automotive environmental technologies have focused mainly on reducing engine exhaust emissions. Recently, however, non-exhaust particulate matter from brakes and tires has gained attention because it is also generated by electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The new technology uses electrostatic precipitation, which offers low resistance to airflow and existing vehicle spaces and components, minimizing additional power and structural modifications. Its applications are expected to expand as environmental regulations tighten, particularly with brake particle emissions regulated under Euro 7.
□ Performance evaluations showed that the grille-type electrostatic precipitation system removed at least 95% of PM2.5 and at least 99% of PM2.5–10 at 30 km/h. The system maintained the same level of performance at 50 km/h and purified approximately 1,800 m³ of air per hour per vehicle. For both the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Sonata, changes in fuel efficiency after installation remained within 1%.
□ Dr. Bangwoo Han, Head of the Department of Urban Environment Research at KIMM, emphasized, “A key feature of this technology is that vehicles can remove fine particulate matter from roadside air while also reducing brake wear particles directly at the source.” He added, “By linking this technology with AirFive, one of KIMM’s Five Flagship Brands, we plan to expand its application to help improve urban air quality.”
□ Dr. Gun Hee Lee, Senior Researcher at the Department of Urban Environment Research at KIMM, emphasized, “By utilizing the vehicle’s existing structure and airflow generated during driving, we minimized the need for additional power.” He added, “Having verified the technology through vehicle testing, we plan to further validate its performance and long-term durability under real-world driving conditions.”
□ This research was conducted under the Core Technology Development Project for Energy Demand Management of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, titled ‘Development and Demonstration of Ultra-High-Efficiency Data Center Thermal Management Technology Using Immersion Cooling.’ The research results were published in Applied Thermal Engineering (Vol. 282, 2026), a leading international journal in the field of thermal engineering.


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The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) is a non-profit government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT. Since its foundation in 1976, KIMM is contributing to economic growth of the nation by performing R&D on key technologies in machinery and materials, conducting reliability test evaluation, and commercializing the developed products and technologies.