New on the shelves
Clever cabin filter heads round-up of latest kit
NEW PRODUCT Airbubbl Price: £295 (or £220 pre-order) Contact: www.airbubbl.com
WE all know about air pollution on our streets, but according to tech company Airlabs, there could be many more pollutants actually inside your car.
Gases such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), plus particulate matter from the exhaust of the car in front, are drawn into the cabin and hit dangerous levels in such a confined space.
Airlabs claims the amount of NO2 in a car is on average 21 per cent higher than it is on the street and that the equivalent of two cigarettes’ worth of nitrogen dioxide can be inhaled by occupants sitting in traffic for an hour.
While many cars have particle filters, until now, there was no technology to protect against gases or pollution coming in through an open window.
After 10 years of research, Airlabs has created the first proven technology that removes gases, particulates, odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCS) from polluted air. This has all been packaged neatly into the Airbubbl, which is conceived for in-car use.
Designed to fit around the headrest, the Airbubbl is powered via the 12V socket and draws polluted air from inside your car, before cleaning it of pollutants, and then releasing clean air back into the cabin. The filter is expected to be effective for 800 hours of driving – between six and 12 months – with replacements costing £50.
The first products are expected to be available in around May or June, with buyers who pre-order benefiting from a discount of £75.
“The company expects the filter to be effective for 800 hours of driving”