Mahle develops smart A/C system that improves in-car air quality

By RIZAL JOHAN | 7 September 2020


LONDON: German auto parts maker Mahle has developed a smart air-conditioning system to support the fight against fine particulates in the vehicle cabin.

Its main innovative feature is the integration of fine-particulate sensors directly into the air conditioning system.

This gives the sensors immediate access to both cabin air and external air, the air conditioning system can react quickly and precisely to changing pollution levels and use the appropriate cleaning strategy to keep the air in the vehicle clean.

The new solution from Mahle offers several advantages in comparison with other systems available on the  market: thanks to the functional integration within the air conditioning system, the solution is more compact, lighter, and cheaper.

The new Mahle approach allows a real time monitoring of cabin and outside air quality.
The new Mahle approach allows a real time monitoring of cabin and outside air quality.


For this purpose, Mahle has rounded out its innovative concept with newly developed fine-particulate filters that offer even greater efficiency.

“Customers will find that the air in the vehicle cabin is noticeably cleaner and the fine-particulate values in the car are lower thanks to our new smart air conditioning system,” explains Laurent Art, Director Advanced Engineering Thermal Management at Mahle .

“Furthermore, this new system lets them check the air quality in the vehicle in real time.”

Existing solutions measure the level of pollution using a complex stand-alone sensor or array of sensors, which is or are often connected via hoses to the central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit.

 

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