The Korean leading sedans, Hyundai Grandeur(Azera) and Kia K5(Optima), actually worsen their inside air with particulate matter(PM) while driving on fresh air mode. Meanwhile, imported car, BMW 3 series and Renault Samsung New SM5 Platinum resulted as decreased the pollutions.
On May 30th, SK Encar measured the PM levels of the 20 random domestic and imported sedans’ inside air. The test was proceed while driving cars about an hour and calculated the PM level changes on fresh air mode and re-circulated mode.
The model that had the highest PM level was Kia the New Optima. While driving on Fresh-air mode, Optima PM were increased up to 22.2%. Hyundai Grandeur HG(20.4%) and Avande AD(20%) followed next and Volkswagen Golf MK7 also was increased the PM level over 20%.
14 units from 20 investigated models elevated the particulate levels while driving on fresh air mode, which appeared that many cars couldn’t filter the PM well enough through the air conditioning device.
The air conditioning device which supposed to ventilate the inside air, actually sucked in the PM from the outside. After driving started 30 minutes, the air PM was increased to max 22.2% in 14 cars on the fresh-air mode.
Even though the fresh-air mode was on, the air-filter couldn’t filter particulate matter and eventually it polluted inside air by concentrate PM, which can seriously threaten the driver’s health.
By turning on the fresh air mode, only 4 models, BMW New 3 series (-13.6%), BMW New 5 series (-7.1%), Chevrolet Spark (-6.3%) and Renault Samsung New SM5 Platinum (-6.1%), had better result.
On the re-circulated mode, most of the cars are showing that the PM level was reduced and especially, the Chevrolet Spark, Kia K3, BMW New 3 series and some cars had been reduced PM level more than 20%. The air conditioning shows that even though it couldn’t filter the outside air but still it has the efficacy of purifying the inner air.
On the other hand, Audi New A4 and New A6, both were required to inspect. Their PM level was increased on the re-circulated mode. The air-conditioning device controls the temperature and air-circulation so that it helps the drivers to drive a long distance with a nice and fresh environment.
To ventilate air, we can choose either fresh an air mode or a re-circulate mode. The re-circulate mode is to purify inner air by circulating inner air through the air-filter and the fresh air mode is to bring the outer fresh air in and the unclean air out. When the fresh air mode is on, the air-filter has to block foreign substances or dusts, in order to keep the inner air fresh.