By Jim Utter
Director of Journalism
Drive Well Auto Spa is like many automatic car washes, offering an array of different levels of service.
But there is reason its slogan is “Drive Well Be Well.”
Behind the typical car wash exterior lies a fully immersive experience for the car as well as the owner, one that utilizes technology not only to provide the best wash possible but also affects the owner’s state of mind.
The wash, located in Mount Prospect, Illinois, and billed as “one of a kind,” incorporates soothing lighting, images on LED screens and 4K, high-resolution wall panels, music and aromatherapy through soaps infused with citrus and lavender scents.
The screens and wall panels can be altered to change and produce many different audio-visual environments. With the site’s grand opening early last month, a festive Christmas-focused experience was first to be featured.
The Drive Well experience comes in two parts, the first being the more traditional wash.
The site features an extra-long tunnel which utilizes a conveyor belt that transports a vehicle through the wash in less than three minutes.
A reverse osmosis water filtration system provides an on-demand, spot-free rinse that also recycles water in an environmentally conscious manner. There are also low-noise vacuum stations.
That leads to the untraditional part of the wash.
Captivating visuals from an LED wall and projectors display stunning imagery while the car travels through the tunnel.
At the same time, relaxing sounds and music help promote a sense of calm. Aromatherapy is integrated into each wash through soaps to enhance the experience.
Co-designer Tarun Raj has worked previously with various health clinics, veterans’ hospitals, automotive manufacturers, and other leading companies to develop and use this technology. The aim is to produce calm and relaxation.
“Love this place! It’s a whole experience,” one reviewer of the wash wrote. “It gets your car clean, and you get to enjoy some calming lights, wonderful smells, and if you turn your own music down you can vaguely hear some relaxing music.
“The visuals on the screen at end are pretty awesome, too.”
The owners’ goal is to provide a sensory car wash experience that leaves both the vehicle and the owner feeling refreshed.
