BreezoMeter — yes, that’s the company’s name — announced an agreement to work with Volvo Cars that should make Volvo drivers and their passengers breathe easier.
The Israeli-based company plans to provide Volvo Car drivers with real-time updates about hazardous air quality through the vehicle’s systems, although exactly how was not disclosed.
The company says once drivers learn about hazardous air quality, they can then take an alternate route so that they can breathe easier, although the system can’t help you if the toxic air is coming from a fellow passenger. But it might help you steer clear of your in-law’s house, as if you needed a program to tell you that.
Study clears the air on pollution
A University of Leeds study discovered UK drivers were exposed to higher levels of air pollution than cyclists, pedestrians and even bus passengers. The exposure to air pollution is allegedly higher inside than outside vehicles, with cars cited as “boxes collecting toxic gases.” And you thought your bad breath was the problem.
Then again, air pollution entering vehicles is cause for concern, as particulates small enough to enter your respiratory system can lead to short- and long-term health risks, according to the study.
Air pollutants — particulate matter — are measured in microns and categorized using those numbers, i.e. PM2.5 or PM10. Many organizations, including the World Health Organization, classify PM2.5 as dangerous because they can penetrate the lung barrier and go directly into the blood stream.
Globally, many urban areas suffer from PM2.5, underlining the need for BreezoMeter and its technology. While the company is proud to clear the air on this matter, as their “Advanced Air Cleaner” eliminates the particles that could cause you harm.
According to Volvo, the system’s synthetic fiber-based filter and ionization keeps up to 95% of all PM 2.5 particles out of the cabin. The system is offered on Volvo V90, V90 Cross Country, XC90 and 60 Series models.
Another source of data you never thought you needed — and probably don’t
Certainly, having quality air data is nice, so we can all breathe a sigh of relief. But in a world where we are inundated by data, microwave food odors and cheap cologne, do we need something else to worry about? In a world where the pandemic has forced people worldwide to wear masks, breathing easier is a lot to ask.
Of course, cars have used particulate filters for years, so why is a system is necessary to notify you there’s something in the air seems, well, much like the department of redundancy department. After all, it’s a problem we can usually sniff out.
The technology plays into Volvo’s longtime safety image
But Volvo Cars’ bread and butter is selling to those for whom the world is a place laced with peril. Volvos are their emotional support vehicle, one that comforts them like a slice of warm apple pie and a cup of coffee, odors that might be categorized as toxic by BreezoMeter.
“Volvo is not only informing drivers of exposure to poor air quality; they’re also empowering them to do something about it,” said Ran Korber, CEO of BreezoMeter.
Like skipping the apple pie?