4
Volvo Cars and the environment
Clean air in the passenger
compartment
A passenger compartment filter prevents
dust and pollen from entering the passenger
compartment via the air intake.
A sophisticated air quality system, IAQS
1
(Interior Air Quality System) ensures that the
incoming air is cleaner than the air in the traf-
fic outside.
The system consists of an electronic sensor
and a carbon filter. The incoming air is moni-
tored continuously and if there is an increase
in the level of certain unhealthy gases such as
carbon monoxide then the air intake is closed.
Such a situation may arise in heavy traffic,
queues and tunnels for example.
The entry of nitrous oxides, ground-level
ozone and hydrocarbons is prevented by the
carbon filter.
Textile standard
The interior of a Volvo is designed to be
pleasant and comfortable, even for people
with contact allergies and for asthma suffer-
ers. All of our upholstery and interior textiles
are tested with respect to certain unhealthy
substances and allergens as well as emis-
sions. This means that all textiles fulfil the
requirements in the Öko-Tex 100 standard
2
,
a major advance towards a healthier passen-
ger compartment environment.
Öko-Tex certification covers seatbelts, car-
pets, thread and fabrics for example. The
leather in the upholstery undergoes chro-
mium-free tanning with natural plant sub-
stances and fulfils the certification
requirements.
Volvo workshops and the
environment
Regular maintenance creates the conditions
for a long service life and low fuel consump-
tion for your car, and in this way you contrib-
ute to a cleaner environment. When Volvo’s
workshops are entrusted with the service and
maintenance of your car it becomes part of
our system. We make clear demands regard-
ing the way in which our workshops are
designed in order to prevent spills and dis-
charges into the environment. Our workshop
staff have the knowledge and the tools
required to guarantee good environmental
care.
Reducing environmental impact
You can easily help reduce environmental
impact, for example, by driving economically,
by purchasing eco-labelled car care products
and by servicing and maintaining the car in
accordance with the instructions in the
owner’s manual.
The following hints will help you to do your bit
for the environment:
• Decrease fuel consumption by choosing
ECO tyre pressure, see page 157.
• Since a roof load and ski
box increase air resist-
ance, leading to signifi-
cantly higher fuel
consumption, they
should be removed
immediately after use.
• Remove unnecessary items from the car -
the greater the load the higher the fuel
consumption.
• Is your car equipped with an engine block
heater? If so, use it for a few hours before
starting from cold to reduce fuel con-
sumption and exhaust emissions.
• Drive gently and avoid braking too hard.
1. Option
2. More information on
www.oekotex.com