Buildings Need Better Air Filtration in the Age of Electric Vehicles

The shift toward electric mobility marks a major step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, with this technological progress comes a new and often underestimated challenge: the increasing burden of non-exhaust emissions, particularly from tire wear. Fine dust generated on the roads does not remain outside. It penetrates buildings, workplaces, and indoor environments where it poses a significant health risk.

The Hidden Cost of Heavier Vehicles

Electric vehicles typically weigh more than combustion engine cars due to their batteries. This added weight leads to higher levels of tire and road surface abrasion, releasing microscopic particulate matter into the air. These fine dust particles especially PM2.5 and smaller, are small enough to bypass natural respiratory defenses and enter the bloodstream.

While exhaust emissions are declining thanks to clean technologies and regulation, non-exhaust particles are rising sharply and they are not regulated to the same extent. Studies from Emissions Analytics and other institutions show that the air pollution profile is shifting. What used to come from the exhaust now increasingly comes from the tires.

Buildings Are Not Isolated from Outdoor Pollution

Modern buildings are constructed for energy efficiency. As a result, they are often highly insulated and rely on mechanical ventilation. Without effective filtration systems, fine particles from outside air enter indoor spaces through HVAC systems, remaining suspended for long periods and creating hidden, ongoing exposure.

This problem affects a wide range of buildings:

• Office and residential towers

• Industrial facilities

• Warehouses

• Public institutions

• Healthcare and education environments

Once inside, fine dust contributes to decreased air quality, aggravating respiratory conditions and reducing cognitive performance and productivity.

Differentiated Electrostatic Filtration: A Smarter Defense

Airvolut develops and manufactures differentiated electrostatic filtration systems that adapt to the particle size distribution and type of airborne pollutants present in specific environments. This advanced approach enables precise separation efficiency across various particle categories from coarse industrial dust to PM2.5 particles, allergens, and biological contaminants like viruses, fungus and bacteria.

Unlike conventional filters that rely solely on mechanical resistance, electrostatic systems charge and capture particles dynamically, achieving high performance at low pressure drop. This makes them ideally suited for buildings with high air volume requirements and sensitive indoor environments.

By customizing filter setups based on the building type, use case, and pollution profile, differentiated filtration ensures maximum protection without compromising on airflow or energy consumption.

Indoor Air Quality Must Be Treated as a Strategic Priority

The fine dust generated in the age of e-mobility does not disappear. It migrates and it enters buildings. Clean indoor air has become a key determinant of workplace health, performance, and satisfaction. Companies that act now gain a competitive advantage in terms of compliance, employee well-being, and environmental leadership.

Rethinking indoor air quality means looking beyond the traditional concerns of temperature and CO₂ levels. It requires a deeper understanding of how urban and mobility trends impact interior environments  and how filtration technology can serve as a powerful protective measure.