CleanZone is designed to create a healthier driving environment. Up to 45% of the world’s population now suffers from some form of allergy or hypersensitivity and over 10% suffer from asthma, the car maker says.
In the mid-1990s Volvo Cars established specifications and began testing in order to create an in-car environment that would be safe for hypersensitive people. The Volvo S80, introduced in 1998, was the first model in which this work was noticeable.
With the release of the XC90 Volvo introduced a larger, more efficient multi-filter. Thanks to its size, this filter is capable of intercepting more particles and pollen than ever before. It also features a layer of active charcoal, which is designed to effectively remove a wide variety of contaminants that can cause harm to a driver’s health. The filter only has to be changed once a year. This new multi-filter is one of the elements that make up the Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) that can be found in new Volvo cars. There is also a sensor that monitors incoming air for noxious substances. If the level of harmful substances detected is deemed too high the car’s air intake closes automatically. Working together, the multi-filter and sensor are able keep out many pollutants.