Volvo’s world-first air-cleaning system comes to South Africa
Imagine a world in which, while enjoying your breakfast from the comfort of your home, the air in your car is being cleaned, remotely, at the press of a button.
![Volvo Cars Advanced Air Cleaner](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/116/2021/10/volvo-cars-advanced-air-cleaner-780x470.jpg)
So, later, when you leave for the office, you know that you will be breathing clean and healthy air while driving. Does this sound like a pipe dream?
It is not – not if you are driving a Volvo. That is because Volvo has introduced a world-first: a system called CleanZone, which cleans the air inside a car.
It will be introduced in South Africa as an optional extra on the XC60, S90, V90CC and XC90.The Advanced Air Cleaner technology – originally introduced in China – makes use of a sensor that measures particulate matter that has a diametre of less than 2.5 micrometres, commonly referred to as PM2.5.
Wondering how small 2.5 micrometres is? Think about a single hair from your head. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average human hair is about 70 micrometres in diametre, making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle.¹ PM levels are extremely important to one’s health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while particles with a diametre of 10 microns (PM10) or less can penetrate and lodge deep inside the lungs, the even more health-damaging particles are those with a diameter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less. PM2.5 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the blood system.
The WHO warns that chronic exposure to particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and also lung cancer.² The Advanced Air Cleaner removes fine particulate matters from the cabin and thanks to a synthetic fibre-based filter and ionisation, up to 95% of all PM2.5 particles are kept out of the cabin. While this is good for a driver’s health, it also helps to boost concentration.
A Volvo driver can even pre-clean the car remotely using the Volvo Cars smartphone app. The app will then report on PM2.5 levels inside the vehicle after cleaning. “With our Advanced Air Cleaner technology, you can rest assured that the air you breathe inside your Volvo is cleaner and healthier,” said Anders Löfvendahl, 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 will continue to push the envelope in this area.”
References:
1. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics#:~:text=Think%20about%20a%20single%20hair,than%20the%20largest%20fine%20particle
2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health