Abstract
This study examined the carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) pollution inside vehicles under low ventilation condition and evaluated the Air Quality System (AQS) for in-vehicle air quality using two techniques. The low ventilation condition is not recommended in order to keep oxygen-rich condition inside vehicles. Under the low ventilation condition, the in-vehicle $CO_2$ concentrations exceeded 1,000 ppm, the air qualify guidelines in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan, indicating more oxygen deficiency inside vehicles. On the contrary, with the AQS-on condition, the in-vehicle $CO_2$ concentrations were less than 1,000 ppm fer most of the driving time, indicating that the AQS could solve the problem of $CO_2$ accumulation inside vehicles under the low ventilation condition. The AQS test conducted by comparing carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations inside two vehicles indicated that the AQS effectively decreased the in-vehicle concentrations by 21 to 36%, as compared to medium ventilation condition with the windows closed, the vent opened, and air conditioning on. In addition, The AQS test conducted by comparing the interior and exterior concentrations indicated that the AQS effectively decreased the in-vehicle concentrations by 18 to 31%, as compared to medium ventilation condition.