Cabin ionisation available on all Jaguar and Land Rover products
Jaguar and Land Rover has announced that all of its new vehicles are now available with the option of a Cabin Air Ionisation system in South Africa with a new PM2.5 system likely to be made available by the end of 2020.
With no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, we are likely to see more manufacturers either developing or adding air purification technology to their product line-ups.
What is ionisation?
Ionisation in this instance is a process where the climate control system electrically charges the air coming into the cabin and in the process removing pollutants and bacteria. This improves air quality, reduces allergens, airborne bacteria and odours.
The system uses a condenser inside the vehicle to collect moisture from the air. These water molecules are then electrically charged, or ionised, to trap contaminants like allergens and bacteria when dispersed through the climate control system. The benefit of using a moisture based-system means the contaminants are better secured, making them less likely to escape the filter media.
What is PM2.5?
The British brand has also announced that some of its products will be available with a new PM2.5 filter system. This is essentially a more potent filtration system to help prevent particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in size from entering the cabin.
PM2.5 is a key measure of air quality and its level of potential harm to the respiratory system. In some countries with high pollution levels, it is typically advised that people stay indoors when PM2.5 reaches 500 AQI (Air Quality Index) due to the increased risks to their health.
An Air Quality Sensor, which is already a feature in the existing system, continuously scans the external air entering the vehicle to assess its relative quality, and, if it detects harmful pollutants it will automatically engage the climate control system’s recirculation setting.
The system includes an ‘Air Purge’ function which activates the fans and recirculation function of the climate control system remotely in order to prepare the cabin for occupants.
Cabin Air Ionisation with PM2.5 will be introduced in some Jaguar Land Rover models in South Africa by the end of 2020 and will be available in all vehicles by the beginning of 2021.
