CabinAir Connected Health Zone System for Vehicles named Automotive News PACE Award 2022 finalist

For 28 years, The Automotive News PACE program has honored superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers. CabinAir’s Connected Health Zone System for Vehicles joins advances in electric vehicles, EV batteries and recharging, automated driving and more as finalists.

PACE judges will review the innovations of 31 finalists for the awards, to be presented at a ceremony on Sept. 19 at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center in Detroit.

Automotive News is the second major organization in recent months to honor the Stockholm, Sweden-based start-up’s Connected Health Zone System for Vehicles. The system was previously a CES^® 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree.

Fresh, Swedish forest air – in your car

CabinAir’s Connected Health Zone System for in-cabin air purification improves the health, safety and well-being of drivers and passengers of all types of vehicles, including buses and trucks. “We believe the air you breathe inside your car should be as fresh and clean as you’d find in a Swedish forest,” says Daniel Hagström, co-founder and CabinAir CEO.

CabinAir is a spinoff of Blueair, which for decades has been one of the world’s leading producers of air-purification solutions for home and professional use. Like Blueair’s air purifiers, CabinAir’s two-stage air purification solution combines the effect of particle charging technology with an optimized mechanical filter. The particle charging device gives airborne particles an electrical charge as they enter the system, making them “stickier,” so they get trapped in the filter much more effectively.

“We believe everyone should have healthy air wherever they go,” Hagström says. “So, with smart product design and innovative technology, we managed to shrink the solution to fit in a car – without performance loss.”

CabinAir’s two-stage combination is up to ten times more effective than a conventional, filter-only solution, and it’s especially effective against the very small and ultrafine particles that are most harmful to health. It’s also highly effective at removing pollen and soot, which have a direct, noticeable effect on breathing.

Prevents virus build-up with flow of purified outside air

“Our system traps the smallest, most harmful airborne pollutants, including ultra-fine particles, before they can get to you,” Hagström continues. “And unlike traditional systems that rely on recirculating increasingly stale interior air, our system provides a continuous flow of clean and fresh air. This prevents the levels of airborne viruses and bacteria – and drowsiness-inducing carbon dioxide – from building up.”

With best-in-class sensors and AI processed air quality data, CabinAir systems can also display air quality and guide drivers to healthy in-cabin air quality in all traffic conditions.

Proven in Volvo cars

CabinAir technology is already on the road in Volvo Cars, some of the world’s most highly regarded vehicles in terms of driver and passenger health and safety. “Our technology is already an integral part of Volvo Cars’ Advanced Air Cleaner (AAC) system,” Hagström says.

“And now, with our aftermarket Nordzone™ System, we’re making healthy air available to the billion vehicles already on the roads, including buses, trucks and other vehicles. Whether they are integrated at the factory or are replacing a standard cabin air filter, our Connected Health Zone System for Vehicles turn vehicles into powerful air purifiers. They also process air quality data to guide and navigate drivers and passengers to healthy air in all traffic situations.”