近日，特斯拉公司將一輛Model SUV放在一個達到極端污染程度的大氣球內。按照美國環境保護署的“良好”空氣質量指數上限，每立方米空氣中細微顆粒物不超過12毫克，而氣球內的細微顆粒物比這一標準高出約8,200%。之后，測試人員關上車門，按下“生物武器防御模式”按鈕，這一特別設定可以使過濾器達到醫療級過濾效果。

The company placed a Model X SUV in a large bubble with extreme levels of pollution, approximately 8,200% above the EPA’s “good” air quality index limit of 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air of fine particulate matter. Testers then closed the doors and hit the “bioweapon defense mode” button, a special setting activating a medical-grade level of the filter.

據特斯拉表示，在不到兩分鐘內，HEPA過濾系統便完成了對Model X內部空氣的凈化，將污染水平降低到了公司儀器無法檢測的程度。公司表示，雖然氣球內仍充滿了污染物，但測試人員可以在汽車里摘下防毒面具，呼吸到新鮮空氣。

特斯拉在博客中解釋稱，過濾系統配有三個碳吸附層，可去除空氣中的花粉、細菌和污染物，還可以對汽車外部的空氣進行真空抽氣，將細微顆粒物污染水平降低40%。特斯拉稱，測試結果證明“生物武器防御模式并非營銷噱頭，而是真實的功能。如果遭遇軍事級生物攻擊，坐在汽車里理論上是能夠幸存的。”公司還提供了一張圖表（見下文）解釋了過濾過程。

In less than two minutes, the HEPA filtration system had scrubbed the air in Model X, bringing pollution levels down to levels so low that they were undetectable by the company’s instruments, according to Tesla. Testers were able to remove their gas masks and breathe fresh air while sitting inside a bubble of pollution, the company says.

The filtration system, which has three carbon absorption layers strip the air of pollen, bacteria, and pollution, then began to vacuum the air outside the car as well, reducing fine particulate pollution levels by 40%, the company explains in a blog post. Tesla posits the results prove “the bioweapon defense mode is not a marketing statement, it is real. You can literally survive a military grade bio attack by sitting in your car.” The company also provided a graph, below, charting out the progress.

細微顆粒物或PM 2.5包括微小的顆粒物和液滴，由酸、有機化學物、金屬和土壤或塵粒組成。這種顆粒物會降低能見度，隨著污染水平提高，空氣會變成灰蒙蒙的一片。由于它們的體積非常小，因此會進入肺部，造成各種呼吸問題，如加重哮喘，導致心律不齊，甚至造成心臟病或肺病患者過早死亡等。北京年均PM 2.5水平為每立方米空氣56毫克（毫克/立方米），墨西哥城為25毫克/立方米，洛杉磯為20毫克/立方米。

不過，對于這款過濾系統的功能，生物武器專家表示懷疑。需要注意的是，此次測試由特斯拉進行，目的可能是為了平息外界的批評。在中國污染嚴重的地區，一款具備這種功能的過濾器，肯定對日常通勤者頗具吸引力。特斯拉目前也在大力開發中國市場。公司或許也急于提供證據，證明該系統確實具備其聲稱的效果。

此外，特斯拉表示其也在空氣質量較差的戶外對過濾系統進行了測試，如高峰時段的加州高速公路、垃圾填埋場和加州中部峽谷的養牛場，以及中國的主要城市等。

特斯拉在博客中指出，該款系統的靈感來自醫院、絕對無塵室和太空行業所用的空氣過濾系統。事實表明，這種想法最早來源于谷歌（Google）聯合創始人拉里?佩奇。特斯拉CEO埃隆?穆斯克在周一發布了一條贊揚佩奇的推文，稱贊是佩奇最初讓他知道了顆粒物過濾的健康好處。

特斯拉公布的另外一條有趣的細節是：其空氣過濾器還不是最終成品。公司表示，正在努力完善可替換的一級和二級過濾器的防御功能。(財富中文網)

譯者：劉進龍/汪皓

Fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, is a mix of tiny particles and liquid droplets that are made up from acids, organic chemicals, metals, and soil, or dust particles. This is the stuff reducing visibility and causing the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated. They’re small enough to become embedded in the lungs, causing a slew of health problems, including aggravated asthma, irregular heartbeat, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Average annual PM 2.5 levels reach 56 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) in Beijing, 25 μg/m3 in Mexico City, and 20 μg/m3 in Los Angeles.

Bioweapons experts have cast doubts on the capability of the filter. This test—which it should be noted was conducted by Tesla—might be an attempt to silence critics. A filter with this kind of capability would be an attractive feature for anyone who commutes every day in heavily polluted areas like China, a market Tesla is trying to reach. The company might be anxious to provide evidence that it really does work as it claims.

The car maker also says it tested the filtration system outside the lab in areas known for poor air quality, such as California freeways during rush hour, landfills, and cow pastures in the central valley of California as well as major cities in China.

Tesla notes in the blog post that it was inspired by the air filtration systems used in hospitals, clean rooms, and the space industry. It turns out that the early seeds of the idea were planted by Google co-founder Larry Page. Tesla CEO Elon Musk sent out a tweet Monday giving Page credit for initially educating him about the health benefits of filtering particulates.

Another interesting details revealed by Tesla: it isn’t finished with the air filter. The company says it is trying to improve the defenses in the primary and secondary filters, which are replaceable.