air quality Archives

Honda’s new premium cabin air filter can lower infection risk from COVID-19

Cabin ventilation systems in cars used to have either fresh air brought in from outside, or recirculated air. In some countries, manufacturers added filters especially to trap pollen and help those who had allergies. But generally, the system was quite straightforward and advancements were largely in improving cooling (or heating) efficiency and distribution of air.

Over the past 20 years, companies like Volvo have gone further to improve air quality, and some systems also have ion generators to freshen the air. Now Honda has developed a premium cabin air filter which it says can reliably captures viral aerosols, is highly effective at capturing a wide range of harmful germs, allergens and even viruses related to significant health problems, – including infection risks associated with the SARS COV-2 virus or what the world knows as COVID-19.

Honda genuine accessory
The Honda premium cabin air filter was developed in cooperation with Freudenberg of Germany and is offered as a new Honda genuine spare part in the European market, as an alternative to the standard Honda pollen filter in most recent models.

“As society is now more aware than even of the impact of germs and viruses such as COVID-19, we expect the demand for protective solutions to increase rapidly. This premium cabin air filter is a great example of Honda working together rapidly with its suppliers to deliver a product of real benefit that improves the health and safety of driver and occupants,” said Eiichi Hino, President Honda Access Europe NV.

Significantly reducing concentration of viral aerosols
This new premium cabin air filter provides active protection by significantly reducing the concentration of viral aerosols. This is achieved by a unique multi-layer design that effectively filters, captures and suppresses noxious environmental gases as well as inorganic and biological particles and aerosols.

*The premium cabin air filter is available as a Honda accessory for recent models, including the new Honda e.*

4-layer filtration system for maximum protection
The fine particle filtration layers provide improved protection against virus transmission in comparison to standard filters. They demonstrably separate not only droplets (> 5 μm), but also critical viral aerosols (droplet nuclei significantly below 5 μm).

The filter can trap more than 90% of viral aerosols and an innovative second step inactivates almost 100% of the captured viral load via a bio-functional layer impregnated with fruit extract. The first two microfibre layers of the Honda premium cabin air filter capture most ultrafine aerosols, dust and pollen while the third layer, made of activated carbon, is responsible for the adsorption of harmful pollution such as particulates and acid gases.

An innovative fourth bio-functional layer coated with the active substance of fruit extract then effectively inactivates captured viral aerosols and prevents them from being released back into the cabin air. This has been conclusively proved by a comprehensive series of tests conducted in collaboration with the Austrian Research Institute OFI.

Fresh air also important
Coronaviruses are spread in droplets produced when those affected sneeze, cough or breathe and can remain infectious on surfaces for hours or even days. Wind disturbances, temperature changes and humidity can all cause that these particles become airborne again, at which point they can be picked up by the filter. To lower the infection risk in the vehicle cabin, it is generally recommended to increase the fresh air supply to reduce the concentration of aerosols. In recirculation mode, removing viruses from the air largely depends on the efficiency of the filtration system and the air exchange rate.

Geely Auto looks at ‘passenger safety’ from a different perspective, aims to make cars ‘healthier’

*The National Vaccination Program in Malaysia is free of charge.*

For a healthier motoring life, be sure a cabin filter keeps the air in the car clean

The air we breathe has always had undesirable particles and germs but in Malaysia, we are fortunate that our air is not so polluted that our health is endangered (not to say that people do not suffer from unhealthy air quality). We have not had to wear face masks before but now we have to in order to protect ourselves and others from the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

While we are now expected to wear face masks by law, it is also useful to take similar precautionary measures inside our cars. Most ventilation systems in today’s cars have some sort of filter, some more effective than others, to help catch dirt particles and keep the air quality reasonably clean.

Air quality is very important
Air quality is of great importance to all of us because it directly affects our health and immune system, as Dr. Rajveer Singh Saren, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialist, stresses. “Air pollution is a silent killer and has caused over three million deaths in the Southeast Asian region. In Malaysia, the World Health Organization categorizes our air quality as moderately unsafe. In my 17 of years of practicing, I’ve seen an increase in health problems such as asthma, allergies, sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart attacks every year due to long term exposure to current air quality levels,” he said.

Some studies have found in-car air quality can be up to 15 times more polluted than the air outside the car. Sitting in traffic causes the highest air pollution in the car as emissions from surrounding vehicles can flow into the car.

Subsequently, a Bosch Automotive Aftermarket (AA) study done in April this year reported that 96% of Malaysian drivers do realise this and showed concerns about air quality in their car. On top of that, exhaust or unpleasant smells and dusty air in the car are the two most common experiences – 64% and 58%, respectively – that drivers notice. These are an indication that many vehicles may have a clogged cabin filter.

Dust, dirt and bacteria
The same survey also reported that the top three types of air pollutants drivers are concerned about are dust, dirt and bacteria. A cabin filter in the ventilation system should be able to capture and keep out these unwanted air contaminants and impurities, as well as smoke, mold spores and pet hair.

*Undesirable particles in cabin air are even smaller than the diameter of human hair and a good filter should trap them to maintain good air quality.*

The better cabin filters may also have enhanced features including anti-bacteria and anti-virus properties that can help minimise exposure risks to airborne pollutants, bacteria and viruses while sitting in the car.

Use good quality filters
“We at Bosch highly encourage drivers to start making the air quality in the car cabin a focal point for health with prioritizing the use of good quality cabin filters in this new normal and beyond. Many drivers are unaware of the existence of a cabin filter as they are an unseen car part. They are in fact a simple, affordable, and very accessible car part that helps limit airborne pollutants, bacteria and viruses from flowing into the car cabin, and reduces our exposure to them. It is with this additional protection that drivers and passengers can be safer in their cars without wearing a mask,” said Dillion Goh, Marketing Manager of Bosch AA.

“The new normal way of life has heightened the awareness on the importance of air quality in relation to our health. The quality of air in your car cabin – how much it stops airborne pollutants, bacteria and virus from the outside air brought into a car – can make a key difference being you staying healthy and falling ill,” he added.

Bosch makes various types of cabin filters with various features such as the ability to remove or trap particles as small as 2.6 microns (a strand of human hair is 50-70 microns in diameter), and an activated carbon layer that absorbs and neutralizes unpleasant smells and harmful gases.

Replace periodically
Just like the air and oil filters in the engine bay, the life of cabin filters is not unlimited. As dirt is trapped, it accumulates and affects the airflow. first. A few that the filter is clogged and needs replacing is when you can smell unpleasant odours, frequent foggy windows and reduced coldness from the air conditioner (although this can also be due to refrigerant diminishing over time.

*The cabin filter is usually behind the glovebox in most cars.*

Depending on the manufacturer’s recommendation, the cabin filter should be replaced every year or every 15,000 kms, whichever comes first. Replacing filters is usually an easy procedure and its location will be mentioned in the Owner’s Manual (usually behind the glovebox in the dashboard).

Volvo’s new technology offers premium air quality inside the car

For those who want premium air quality in the premium cars they travel in, Volvo’s new Advanced Air Cleaner technology can satisfy that expectation. The technology is a world-first premium to provide Volvo drivers with clean and healthy air inside their cars and also clean the air of their cabin ahead of their journey.

While it may seem like the Swedish company is focusing on air cleanliness in view of global concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Volvo has given attention to air quality in the cabin for decades. It was among the early carmakers to provide pollen filters and of course, it has continuously developed technologies to ensure that its exhaust emissions from its engines are as clean as possible.

*Volvo can’t do much about outside air quality (although it helps by ensuring its engine exhaust emissions are clean), but it can offer very clean air inside the car.*

Measuring and cleaning
The system has a sensor that measures PM 2.5 levels inside the cabin, creating a feature not available in any other car currently on the market. Indicating the amount of fine particulate matter in the air, PM 2.5 is a widely used measure for air quality. Globally, many urban areas suffer from PM 2.5 values that exceed recommended levels by the World Health Organisation, underlining the need to minimize their impact.

In China, where PM 2.5 measurements and related information services are well established, Volvo drivers can also compare air quality inside the cabin to that outside the car.

Available on all 60-series and 90-series Volvo models based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) since early this year, the Advanced Air Cleaner uses a synthetic fibre-based filter and ionization to clean the air. Up to 95% of all PM 2.5 particles can be removed with these two methods.

*Volvo’s Advanced Air Cleaner can remove up to 95% of all PM 2.5 particles using a synthetic fibre-based filter and ionization.*

Healthier air means safer driving
With the greater air filtration, air quality inside the car is much healthier, limiting the adverse health effects that are associated with air pollution and fine particulates. Cleaner air inside the car also helps make driving safer as healthy and fresh air can help boost driver concentration.

Stale air tends to make a driver sleepy too, which is why the air inside needs to be refreshed periodically by opening the windows or switching to fresh air mode for the ventilation system. However, as external air quality is not clean, this is where Volvo’s Advanced Air Cleaner technology is very useful to clean it as it enters the cabin.

Drivers of certain Volvo models can also use the Volvo On Call smartphone app (where available) 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.

*Volvo owners can also check on air quality in the cabin and then activate the cleaning process from their home or office.*

“With our Advanced Air Cleaner technology, you can rest assured that the air you breathe inside your Volvo is cleaner and healthier,” said Anders Lofvendahl, Senior Technical Expert on Cabin Air Quality at Volvo Cars. “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.”

Apart from the Advanced Air Cleaner technology, Volvo Cars also works on creating a healthy environment inside its cars in other ways. Its engineers have a long-standing focus on removing emissions from organic substances in the car. They also aim to minimize the amount of allergy-causing materials from its interiors as well as generation and emission of odours from parts and materials used inside the cabin.

Geely Auto looks at ‘passenger safety’ from a different perspective, aims to make cars ‘healthier’

Cleaner cabin environment in Proton X70 with use of N95 filter

Besides using its R&D and production facilities to produce face shields for the frontliners in hospitals helping to treat COVID-19 patients, Proton has also turned its attention to improving the air quality in the cabin of its cars. Even in ‘good’ times, the air around us has pollutants from exhaust fumes, haze, etc. While most of us travel with the windows closed, the air quality inside can still be affected by air from outside.

Having clean air in the vehicle is obviously important, especially when motorists can spend long periods of time inside. To prevent contaminants from getting in, Proton has gone a step further by introducing the N95 Cabin Filter in the 2020 Proton X70. Incorporated in the ventilation system, this filter is superior to conventional dust and pollen filters.

Superior filtration
The N95 Cabin Filter, as the name suggests, can remove 95% of particles that are larger than 0.3 microns. Additionally, it can remove 98% of PM2.5 dust particulates, which is important to promote respiratory health. PM2.5 particles are very tiny – about 3% the diameter of human hair – so it requires a very fine filter to stop them from entering the cabin. Apart from effectively filtering smoke particulates, dust and bacteria; the N95 filter can help to promote an allergy-free environment by reducing allergens from pets, aphids and pollen.

Integrated in ventilation system
The N95 Cabin Filter is an integral part of the air-conditioning system in the X70. It can function in both fresh and recirculation modes, as long as the blower fan is switched on. There’s no need to activate it as it works all the time to filter the air passing through,whether it is drawn in in from outside or recirculated air.

Providing this filter is no doubt just a first step by Proton to make the environments in its cars as clean as possible. It would be working with Geely, which is already active in developing solutions that address concerns about viruses in the air. Volvo, another affiliate in the Geely Group, also has much experience in developing clean-air systems for cars and would be contributing its knowledge as well.

Geely Auto looks at ‘passenger safety’ from a different perspective, aims to make cars ‘healthier’

Geely Auto looks at ‘passenger safety’ from a different perspective, aims to make cars ‘healthier’

‘Passenger safety’ in a motor vehicle would be expected to relate to protection during accidents and perhaps the way interior features are designed so as not to cause injuries. Some examples would be the shape of switches and how they project from the dashboard and the type of materials used in areas where the head may hit during a violent accident.

Now, with the outbreak of the coronavirus, one carmaker is adding protection from harmful substances in the air inside the car to ‘passenger safety’ requirements. The carmaker is Geely Auto which has allocated 370 million RMB (about RM220 million) of funding to further the development of ‘healthy, intelligent vehicles’.

The initiative, announced recently not only adds a new dimension to Geely’s understanding of ‘passenger safety’ but also represents a new development direction for automobiles. Until now, addressing air quality in the cabin has been mainly through the use of filters in the ventilation system. Some cars also have a system using nanoe-technology with fine e-ion particles said to be able to deactivate airborne bacteria.

Geely MPV — Geely Auto’s global R&D and design networks will jointly research new environmentally-sustainable materials with anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties which can be used within air-conditioner systems and on frequently touched surfaces such as buttons and handles.

The development of a ‘healthier’ car differs from specialized medical vehicles in that Geely’s products are made for ordinary consumers. A car with comprehensive virus protection not only requires the capability to isolate harmful substances in the air, and it must be able to quickly and effectively purify cabin air for occupants.

Geely Auto’s global R&D and design networks based in Europe, USA and China will jointly move to develop and research new environmentally-sustainable materials with anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties which can be used within air-conditioner systems and on frequently touched surfaces such as buttons and handles.

Geely Auto will make full use of its global R&D system and resources as well as cooperate with professional medical and scientific research institutions to set up special project teams to work on the new research.

Volvo Cars, also a member of the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group like Geely Auto, would be able to contribute a lot of its experience in this area as it would surely have for other safety aspects. For decades, it has paid attention to air quality inside its cars and developed features like the Clean Zone Interior Package and the Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) to maintain high air quality in the passenger compartment. The IAQS is a fully automatic air quality system that separates gases and particles to reduce the levels of odours and contaminants in the passenger compartment.

CleanZone in the Volvo XC60 — *For many years, Volvo Cars has offered air quality systems in its cars.*

“Epidemic prevention is a job that requires the long-term effort of wider society. As the most common mode of transportation, consumers spend a considerable amount time in their cars, akin to a ‘second home’. Only by making healthier products can we meet consumer demand for better quality of life,” said An Conghui, President of Geely Holding Group and President & CEO of Geely Auto Group.

“Based on the automotive industry’s development direction built around electrified, connectivity, intelligence, and shared mobility, auto companies should commit to developing products that help protect the health of drivers and passengers. This will become one of Geely Auto key long-term development objectives,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Geely Holding Group joined hands with the Li Shufu Foundation to set up a special 200 million RMB (about RM118.4 million) fund in support of the new coronavirus prevention and control, with a focus on the mass purchasing of much-needed medical supplies for China in the short term.

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air quality

Honda’s new premium cabin air filter can lower infection risk from COVID-19

For a healthier motoring life, be sure a cabin filter keeps the air in the car clean

Volvo’s new technology offers premium air quality inside the car

Cleaner cabin environment in Proton X70 with use of N95 filter

Geely Auto looks at ‘passenger safety’ from a different perspective, aims to make cars ‘healthier’

Honda’s new premium cabin air filter can lower infection risk from COVID-19

For a healthier motoring life, be sure a cabin filter keeps the air in the car clean

Volvo’s new technology offers premium air quality inside the car

Cleaner cabin environment in Proton X70 with use of N95 filter

Geely Auto looks at ‘passenger safety’ from a different perspective, aims to make cars ‘healthier’

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