Back in October, Tesla hacker @greentheonly found references to HEPA filter and Bioweapon Defense Mode for the Tesla Model Y.
Now, on Saturday evening, @greentheonly has found confirmation HEPA filter support and Bioweapon Defense Mode will be available for the Model 3 and Model Y, according to an update to Tesla’s vehicle manuals.
“If you’re Model 3 Model Y is equipped with the medical-grade HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, this filter ensures the best quality air inside the cabin whenever climate control system is on and outside air is entering the cabin (recirculate is off),” explains the manual update.
Big manual update that I am still sifting through.
What immediately jumped at me is the confirmation of HEPA filter/biohazard mode for model Y and 3.
For whatever strange reason, this is only outlined in the Chinese locale manual, others and old cars have the old page. pic.twitter.com/B1ArfVDZdc— green (@greentheonly) December 27, 2020
According to @greentheonly, the hacker notes “for whatever strange reason, this is only outlined in the Chinese locale manual, others and old cars have the old page.” This suggests Tesla may only debut this HEPA and Bioweapon Defense Mode for Model 3 and Model Y in China, as a purchase incentive.
@Greentheonly also clarified, “small correction – while the page says model 3/y, the block actually has a wrapper around it to only display for model Y. There does not appear to be any other qualifiers, so all Model Ys made in China will have it?”
Yep, CN Model 3 manual 2020.44 is without HEPA. No Model Y manual released yet. pic.twitter.com/tkwc4p54E2
— Tesla Here (@TeslaHere3) December 27, 2020
With air quality very poor in China due to the country’s large population and various industries, offering support for HEPA filters and Bioweapon Defense Mode, would definitely be a selling feature for the Model 3, and soon to be available Model Y in the country.
Bioweapon Defense Mode comes standard for the Model S and Model X. Back in 2016, Tesla explained how the feature is able to clean the air:
The plot below shows the subsequent evolution in pollution levels inside the vehicle and inside the bubble. In less than two minutes, the HEPA filtration system had scrubbed the air in Model X, bringing pollution levels from an extremely dangerous 1,000 µg/m3 to levels so low as to be undetectable (below the noise floor) by our instruments, allowing us to remove our gas masks and breathe fresh air while sitting inside a bubble of pollution.
Tesla further explained, “Not only did the vehicle system completely scrub the cabin air, but in the ensuing minutes, it began to vacuum the air outside the car as well, reducing PM2.5 levels by 40%. In other words, 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.”
“Moreover, it will also clean the air outside your car, making things better for those around you. And while this test happened to be done with a Model X, the same would be true of the new Model S now in production.” Oh how far Tesla has come. The addition of this feature for the Model 3 and Model Y will again make Teslas even more enticing to electric car buyers.
