BreezoMeter, the company that delivers street-level air quality data and informed lifestyle recommendations to consumers in 100+ countries, today announces its work with Volvo Cars. BreezoMeter will now offer car passengers another layer of protection from outdoor pollution, through real-time updates about their exposure to hazardous air quality. The company delivers micro-local environmental intelligence (within 5 meters of the driver) through the vehicle’s HMI (human-machine interface).
Passengers can then use these updates to find alternative routes and make other informed decisions to decrease their exposure to toxic air, such as when to open and close windows.
Traffic has a disproportionately negative impact on air quality. In fact, in a study conducted by the University of Leeds, drivers were found to be exposed to higher levels of air pollution while on the road than cyclists, pedestrians or bus passengers. The air quality in traffic is especially toxic considering the presence of the pollutant PM2.5–particulate matter that is small enough to enter people’s respiratory systems unnoticed, posing serious short-term and long-term health risks. As awareness of their exposure to toxins grows, drivers are more likely to demand air quality treatment solutions and in-cabin contamination prevention in the vehicles they purchase.
Volvo Cars has provided car owners with its Advanced Air Cleaner (AAC) technology, that cleans out fine particulate matter from the cabin, as well as notifies the driver of the PM2.5 levels in the car.
With the integration of BreezoMeter’s air quality data, drivers of Volvo cars can also monitor the air quality outside of the car. Drivers now have access to the highest accuracy air quality intelligence, not only within the cabin but also outdoors, in real time, while in any location. This information enables drivers to compare outside and inside air quality, as well as how well Volvo Cars’ systems clean the cabin. All of this results in even more informed daily driving decisions and a way for drivers to directly optimize the quality of the air inside their car, reduce their exposure to air pollution, and minimize related adverse health effects.