Audi electric crossovers have learned to filter the surrounding air. The company reported on the results of the pilot project.
The Audi company equipped the e-tron test crossovers with a special particulate filter. It cleans the surrounding air from dust caused by the wear of brake pads, tires and road surfaces. Moreover, during the entire service life of the filter, it can fully compensate for dust pollution created by the car itself. The system can work in two modes: passive and active. It is quite simply arranged and does not affect the operation of the on-board systems of the electric car.
In 2017, MANN+HUMMEL started testing an experimental installation for the filtration of dust particles generated during braking, as well as tire and road surface wear. The system consisted of three filters, including a bulky fine cleaning device installed on the roof of a Volkswagen Passat. The solution was not distinguished by sophistication, so it was improved in a few years.
The system is now called the Audi Urban Purifier. This is a solid particle filter installed in the front of the e-tron electric crossover, which captures dust with a diameter of up to 10 micrometers. It consists of 15 percent of secondary raw materials and 60 percent can be recycled. The life span is the same as that of standard car filters. And during this time, the Audi Urban Purifier is able to absorb about 15 kilograms of CO₂ equivalents.
Functionally, the Audi system is no different from the stationary filters used in some cities. While driving, the installation works in passive mode: the air is filtered by simply passing through the car. But during charging, you can use the active cleaning mode. In this case, the ambient air is sucked in by the fan. Pilot tests showed that the filter does not affect the operation of the machine itself, and in cities like Stuttgart it completely removes the particles created by the e-tron.
In the future, Audi and MANN+HUMMEL want to make the system even more efficient. For example, it is planned to be connected to weather stations. In addition, the cabin of electric cars can add indicators of filter operation, as well as information about how much dust has already been filtered. It is not yet clear whether this system will appear on production cars. However, Audi intends to present the ambient air filtration technology itself at the Greentech festival in London.
