Breathe Better

Mobility solutions will be designed to improve air quality

Air pollution levels have been of great concern to Chinese citizens for several years. However, while improvements have occurred102, demand for further action comes as research uncovers the long-term effects of air pollution on older adults.

Recent research has linked high levels of air pollution with increased incidences of dementia103 , heart disease, hypertension104 , sleep disturbances105 , and cognitive impairment106 .

The transport sector is one of the leading causes of air pollution in China, and it is estimated that between 20-50%107 of local fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in Chinese cities -. Shenzhen 52%, Beijing 45%, Guangzhou 22% - are produced by transport. Nationwide, nitrogen oxides from transport solutions such as motor vehicles have accounted for about 60%108 of the total emissions, and volatile organic compounds account for about 23%109 .

While China has set a date of 2035 for banning the sale of fossil-fuelled vehicles110, the country is expected to sell 80 million internal combustion engines annually111 by 2026. This means transport-related pollution levels will continue to increase, with the Chinese government estimating that carbon emissions will peak in 2028112, dropping to 20% of peak levels by 2035.

As a result, Chinese citizens are already doing what they can to reduce their exposure to these pollutants. The Chinese Air Purifiers Market stood at USD 1,489.84 Million in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.12% to surpass USD 1,767.81 Million by 2025113 .

A recent catalyst driving awareness of air pollution is that of the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant reductions in air pollution across many countries, including China, were visualised by institutions such as NASA114 and mainstream media115 outlets during nationwide lockdowns.

For older adults who are more likely to experience adverse reactions116 to high pollution levels, increased expectations emerge for mobility companies to do more to improve air quality both in and around their vehicles.

© Photoholgic

MICRO TREND

© Volvo © Tianjin FAW

CASE STUDY Managing Micro-Climates

Auto-makers across China are launching innovative features for their vehicles that aim to improve the air quality inside of their cars.

Citizens are becoming increasingly aware of studies showing that air pollution concentrations inside a car are higher117 than those outside. Parallel studies have also found that concentration levels can also affect driver concentration118, increasing the likelihood of traffic accident-related deaths119 .

Geely Auto’s new ICON model has an intelligent air purification system (IAPS)120 with “in-vehicle virus isolation and prevention functions”. The system isolates harmful substances from external air whilst purifying air inside the car, eliminating harmful airborne substances, including bacteria and viruses.

Volvo’s new ‘Advanced Air Cleaner’121 technology cleans fine particulate matters from the cabin of the car. Sensors measure PM 2.5 levels inside the car, whilst synthetic fibre-based filters and an ioniser remove up to 95% of all PM 2.5 particles from the air entering the vehicle. Drivers can also use an app to clean the cabin air before their journey, ensuring pollution levels are kept to a minimum.

Volvo customers in China - where PM 2.5 measurements and information services are widely available - can also compare air quality inside the cabin to that outside the car.

Tanji Motor’s Skyline ME7 SUV122 (the companys first luxury electric SUV) has been fitted with vehicle-grade CN95 air filtration and ultraviolet disinfection features. The air quality control system monitors the air quality inside and outside of the car in realtime - through dual-channel PM2.5 sensors - and automatically switches the internal and external circulation of the air conditioner. These systems remove potentially harmful particles, including PM2.5, bacteria and viruses.

For older adults who are more likely to experience age-related driving impairments123 , air filtration systems are likely to become increasingly popular as they seek to increase their safety and protect their independence.

© IM Motors x Heatherwick Studio

© IM Motors x Heatherwick Studio © IM Motors x Heatherwick Studio

CASE STUDY Actively Cleaning The Air

Designed for Chinese car brand IM Motors, Heatherwick Studio unveiled its Airo electric car concept124 at Shanghai Motor Show 2021.

While all-electric cars produce no engine pollution, Heatherwick has designed the vehicle to go one step further, actively removing particles from the air with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtering system. The car, set to go into production in 2023, taps into the mindset of older adults looking to reduce their exposure to air pollution.

As citizen mindset increasingly shifts to one of carbon-negative as opposed to carbon-neutral, solutions such as this will grow more favourable.

CASE STUDY Microplastic Mitigation

The switch to EV’s may stop the production of harmful pollutants from internal combustion engines, but air pollution created by microplastics released from tyres remains an unsolved issue.

UK startup ENSO125 looks to address this issue with their new tyre design. The company claims its tyres are made from advanced raw materials that are environmentally friendly, which greatly reduce the quantity and toxicity of harmful particulate matter (PM) emissions that current tyres release. The company also looks to flip the current revenue model applied to tyres, opting to supply directly to customers on a payper-mile basis, opposed to tyres that wear out faster and need replacing. Enso will instead profit from durability and fewer customer service visits.

Another UK startup, The Tyre Collective126, looks to address the issue by applying a different approach. The prototype device, which suspends from each wheel’s steering knuckle, just above where the tyre meets the road, is designed to capture microplastic fragments released through friction every time the car brakes, accelerates or turns a corner. It achieves this by leveraging the positive electrostatic charge of the tyre particles - created by the friction through which they are released - and a series of copper plates that attract the rubber particles, capturing them in a cartridge inside the device.

© Enso

© The Tyre Collective © The Tyre Collective