DEARBORN – As spring arrives and more Americans prepare to face allergies, the
new 2013 Ford Fusion can help combat common airborne and touch-based allergens,
while monitoring possible irritants in areas where customers are driving or
planning to visit.
Ford engineers tested more than 100 materials and
components on the new Fusion and other Ford vehicles for allergy issues.
Engineers avoid – or minimize – materials such as natural latex, hexavalent
chromium and nickel, which can produce an allergic reaction in some
people.
Components requiring allergen testing include common high-touch
areas such as the seats, steering wheel, armrests, door handles and
shifters.
“Allergies affect large numbers of people, so anything we can
do to reduce potential allergens inside Ford vehicles we do through rigorous,
controlled testing,” said Linda Schmalz, supervisor of Core Material Engineering
for Ford.
WebMD says more than half of all Americans test positive to
one or more allergens. Allergies have been increasing for the past three decades
across all age, gender and racial groups, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Ford seeks to reduce the irritation of allergens
– associated with seasonal weather and possibly rash-inducing materials – by
rigorously testing its vehicles and installing cabin air filters that prevent
airborne particles such as dust, spores, fungus and pollen from entering the
vehicle.
From dust to hexavalent chromium (a chemical sometimes found in
dyes, paints and plastics), natural latex to pollen, almost any material or
substance can be a potential allergen. Ford testers make sure dyes and
formaldehyde are strictly limited to levels that are acceptable even for
clothing.
Cleanest possible cabin air
Cabin air filters improve
driving comfort by reducing particle concentration, improve cleanliness and
protect climate control components from particle deposits. These filters also
capture soot, smog and tobacco smoke.
Because of the seamless way it
works, many customers may not realize they have a cabin air filter. In most
cases, the filter is accessed through the glove box. Ford dealers change the
filters as part of the recommended maintenance for all
vehicles.
Health and wellness research
In 2011 Ford
kicked off a series of research projects for in-car health and wellness-connected
services such as medical device connectivity, cloud-based health management
services and mobile app integration.
In just more than a year, Ford
delivered on the initial research with launch of the SYNC AppLink-compatible Allergy Alert app – available on the
2013 Fusion and other new Ford vehicles – and as one of the first steps toward
helping drivers take care of themselves and their passengers.
With SYNC®
AppLink™, drivers can quickly access allergy information through the Allergy
Alert app. Through the app’s pollen index rating, drivers can request to hear
the types of allergen conditions they are likely to encounter that may cause a
flare-up in personal allergy symptoms. The app also provides a risk index for
asthma, flu/cough/cold and ultraviolet rays.
Drivers can access Allergy
Alert app information simply by connecting smartphones or tablets to their cars
using simple voice commands, while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on
the road.
The SYNC AppLink-enabled version of Allergy Alert is available
for iOS devices and is a free app that can be downloaded from the App
Store.
