Tesla has introduced a new feature to its vehicles, alerting drivers in the United States to poor air quality in their vicinity. The feature, included in Software Version 2024.26 released earlier this month, displays an alert if air quality is subpar.
This functionality has been available to Tesla drivers in China for some time, with a notable difference: Chinese drivers are constantly informed of the air quality index (AQI), even when air quality is high, according to Not a Tesla App.
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Tesla has long emphasized air quality awareness, incorporating several modes into its vehicles to maintain clean cabin air. One such feature is the Bioweapon Defense Mode, which, in combination with the HEPA filtration system, removes pollen, bacteria, and pollution from entering the vehicle’s cabin.
Tesla describes this system on its website:
“The end result is a filtration system hundreds of times more efficient than standard automotive filters, capable of providing the driver and her passengers with the best possible cabin air quality no matter what is happening in the environment around them.”
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Currently, the HEPA filter is standard in the Model S and Model X, while the Model Y also includes it alongside Bioweapon Defense Mode. However, the Model 3 lacks this feature, although third-party and aftermarket HEPA filters are available for this model without the Bioweapon Defense Mode.
The new AQI alert system aims to increase driver awareness of surrounding air quality and can be particularly useful during environmental disasters, such as wildfires, which significantly degrade air quality.
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