Volvo air-cleaning tech also measures pollution inside and outside vehicle

MANILA: Volvo Cars has a new feature in all 60- and 90-series Volvo models based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that will literally make the driver and passenger breathe easy.

Called the Advanced Air Cleaner technology, it’s the world’s first climate control system that comes with a sensor to measure PM (particulate matter) 2.5 levels inside and outside the cabin.

PM2.5 poses the greatest health risk as these can get deep into the lungs and may even get into the bloodstream. Exposure to PM2.5 can affect a person's lungs and heart.

The Advanced Air Cleaner cleans out up to 95% of all PM2.5 particles from the cabin using a synthetic fiber-based filter and ionization. This optimizes air quality inside the car, limiting the adverse health effects that are associated with air pollution and fine particulates.

Volvo models with this feature can also use the Volvo On Call smartphone app to easily schedule an extra cleaning of the cabin air ahead of their journey. The app then tells drivers about the actual PM 2.5 levels inside the cabin after cleaning.

“With our Advanced Air Cleaner technology, you can rest assured that the air you breathe inside your Volvo is cleaner and healthier. We believe that clean air is good for you, both from a health and from a safety perspective, and we will continue to push the envelope in this area,” said Volvo Cars Senior Technical Expert on Cabin Air Quality Anders Löfvendahl.

Aside from the Advanced Air Cleaner technology, Volvo engineers have a long-standing focus on removing emissions from organic substances in the car and minimizing the amount of allergy-causing materials from its interiors. The Swedish automaker has strict sourcing requirements for suppliers in order to minimize the generation and emission of odors from parts and materials used inside the cabin. The company also works closely with a variety of universities and other institutes on projects related to material use, as well as developing and implementing ever-stricter allergy standards for its interiors.

In fact, Volvo has a special team of odor assessors, internally known as "The Noses." They test components individually as well as on a complete car level for odor emissions. Despite technological advances, this team remains unmissable for the odor control process because the human nose is much more sensitive than any analytical instrument.

Photos from Volvo

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