Valeo and Air Quality: Putting Health and Comfort First

FRANKFURT, Germany, September 13 -- Valeo has been working on improving in-cabin air quality for many years and has recently designed seven innovative systems to enhance occupant comfort and, above all, to provide better protection from pollution. These seven new systems represent new benchmarks in this specialist field.

Increased and long-lasting protection from external pollution

Pollutant particles, especially from the ever-increasing number of diesel-fuelled vehicles, are invisible to the naked eye but can be harmful to humans. These particles, which may be smaller than one micron in diameter, are charged through a corona electrical field and collected on an electrostatic filter.

To complement this initial protection, Valeo has now added a photo-catalysis combined filter. This is composed of a blend of active carbon and titanium dioxide and an ultraviolet light source which self-regenerates by photo-catalytic reaction. The UV lamp activates the decomposition of gas and micro-organisms via the chemical reaction between the pollutants and the titanium dioxide. The advantage of this system is that it ensures optimal protection of vehicle occupants by a very effective filtering action that is maintained throughout the long life of the filter, up to 5 years or 100,000 kilometers.

Odor-free air-conditioning

Unpleasant odors produced by some air-conditioning systems after several years of use are a major complaint among motorists. The air conditioning evaporators can trap malodorous gases and then release them suddenly when the system is activated.

To avoid this unpleasant phenomenon, Valeo has developed an evaporator covered with a layer of varnish applied directly to the aluminum. This hydrophilic, biostatic, and chromium-free anti-odor evaporator eliminates the danger of odorous gases being trapped and ensures perfect surface quality throughout the product's life.

In the air filter, located upstream of the evaporator, is a cartridge containing an antiseptic compound. This compound spreads naturally throughout the air-conditioning system and destroys the bacteria and microbes that cause the offensive smell.

A breath of fresh air in the cabin

Pollution, in the form of gas and dust, and unpleasant smells may also come from the cabin itself. The air-purification module with photo-catalytic filter (which can be mounted inside the cabin) provides an additional action to deliver clean, safe air in air-con recycling mode.

As well as eliminating unpleasant odors, Valeo's systems protect the health of all vehicle occupants

The ion generator, for example, emits positive and negative ions that catch airborne microbes and fungi and effectively neutralize them. This system, known as the Plasmacluster Ion(TM) generator is already on the Japanese market and testifies to the Group's capacity to innovate.

Superior air quality available to everyone

Valeo's BioClip(TM) anti-bacteria diffuser is a world first and is now available through Valeo's aftermarket network.

The system can be fitted to any type of vehicle since it simply clips on to the cabin air filter. It has a guaranteed minimum working life of 12 months, similar to the air filter itself.

BioClip(TM) uses a natural anti-microbial agent (a plant molecule) that is continuously diffused into the cabin to destroy the microorganisms that develop in the air-conditioning circuit and which can generate unpleasant odors and allergic reactions.

Alongside the cabin air filter, which protects against particles and external pollution (gas, dust, etc), BioClip(TM) offers an additional air purification function that spreads clean air when in either air-con normal or recycling mode.

Plasmacluster Ion is a registered trademark of Sharp Corporation.