The city of Milan, Italy recently introduced an innovative method of sanitizing its taxis. The system uses UV-C ray technology to sanitize the air by killing up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
The SanitaAria Mini – which is manufactured by Beghelli – is an air sanitizing device designed to act locally, as its small size allows it to be placed in different sites for effective protection against the spread of Covid-19 and other viral and bacterial pathologies, such as the seasonal flu. It replicates the natural purifying ability of solar radiation by breaking down contaminants in the air. In the taxis, it is placed behind the headrests of the front seats of the taxi, so that both passengers and the driver are protected due to the barrier that reduces the viral load in the passenger compartment. The device connects to the cigarette lighter socket in the vehicle and is automatically activated when the car is turned on, to ensure continuous operation.
“We have always supported innovations and collaborations aimed at protecting the health of Milanese citizens. Our city stands out for its spirit of experimentation and its inhabitants show that they are always looking for solutions that improve life. Today, with this collaboration, we show that we are once again at the forefront of these issues”, stated Arianna Censi, the Milanese Councilor for Mobility.
The systems’ antimicrobial efficacy was tested by private laboratories, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Padua.
“The impact of what is presented today is important in terms of innovation and also on a social level,” said Attilio Dadda, president of Legacoop Lombardia, a taxi cooperative in the city. “Our cooperative system, together with a large Italian and multinational company such as Beghelli, promotes the protection of the health of the thousands and thousands of citizens, workers and tourists (in addition to the taxi drivers themselves) who use taxis every day for their travel needs. The taxi category is one of those that suffered most during the pandemic and not giving up on being innovators is a sign of strength and confidence in the future.”