Abstract
Honda has developed a vehicle for transporting infected persons in order to support local governments and medical institutions responding to COVID-19. Honda first developed specifications to protect drivers from infection while transporting infected persons or persons suspected to be infected to medical institutions and the like, then incorporated the specifications into an existing production vehicle and delivered the infected person transport vehicle to local governments within two weeks. In order to develop and provide the vehicle in a short period of time, simple infection-prevention mechanisms were adopted. These consisted of a flat partition attached to the rear of the driver’s seat in the existing vehicle and the ventilation functions of the vehicle’s air conditioner. Infection prevention performance indices were the differential pressure between the spaces fore and aft of the partition and the cabin ventilation capacity. The differential pressure target of over 2.5 Pa (standard for medical operating room) and the cabin ventilation capacity target value of over 12 times/h were achieved. Between April and December of 2020, 158 of these vehicles were assembled and provided to 25 municipalities and prefectures.
References
- (1) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Report of the SDG Management / ESG Investment Study Group, p. 13-15, (2019) (in Japanese)
- (2) Honda Motor Co., Ltd.: Honda Sustainability Report 2020, p. 150-156, (2020)
- (3) Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan: Chapter 2 Hospitals infection control, Hospital Facilities Design Guidelines (Air Conditioning Systems), HEAS-02-2013, p. 15, (2013) (in Japanese)
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- (5) Shingata infuruenza oyobi toriinfuruenza ni kansuru kankeishocho taisaku kaigi: Jigyosha, shokuba ni okeru shingata infuruenza taisaku gaidorain, p. 97, (2009) (in Japanese)
- (6) Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Open data, https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/open-data_english.html, 2021/4/21
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Publication Information
Article of Honda R&D Technical Review Vol.33 No.2 (26 - 33)
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Keiichiro NAKAO, Toshiyuki TANAKA.
Short Lead Time Development of Customized Vehicles with Preventive Measures for COVID-19 Infection – Social Contribution through Swift Provision of Vehicles –
Honda R&D Technical Review Vol.33 No.2 pp.(26 - 33)2021.
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