Imagine breathing clean, filtered air as you commute to work on the bus. For many Silicon Valley workers that will soon be a reality thanks to a new custom-built HEPA filtration system that will be installed on a special-order Van Hool TDX high-capacity, double-deck coach being used by an employee shuttle fleet operation. The new feature is the culmination of years of collaboration between ABC and Van Hool to create a custom solution that improves interior cabin air-quality on the 45-foot double-deck coach.

“Our advanced Van Hool TDX model meets and exceeds EPA 16, GHG 17 emission standards for commercial vehicles, so integrating new technology that can further enhance the passenger environment is exciting for our team”, stated Roman Cornell, president/CCO at ABC Companies.

The HEPA filtration unit is equipped with a HEPA filter, two pre-filters and two evaporator blowers that draw outside air through the filters which is then transferred to the TDX lower deck A/C unit where it is circulated throughout the interior of the coach. The new system is designed to offer a significant reduction in particle counts down to the smallest concentration with results being achieved within 20 minutes of operation. Conclusive testing revealed dramatically decreased dust in the interior cabin.

Supporting data indicated a substantial drop in measurements in the following test ranges:
- Particles up to 0.3 um dropped from 2500 to 500 in 20mins.
- Particles up to 0.5 um dropped from 1000 to 180 in 20mins.
- Particles up to 1 um dropped from 350 to 70 in 20mins.

“The new HEPA filtration system is designed to provide numerous benefits in terms of both air quality and equipment performance”, notes Nelson, “specifically in static or heavily congested road conditions where traffic emissions from older vehicles are prevalent and can permeate the passenger cabin,” he says.

In terms of maintenance and equipment performance,Tom Van Lokeren, Engineering Bus and Coach HVAC Specialist at Van Hool, cited that HEPA filtration technology can contribute to optimal equipment performance, by helping to maintain a cleaner coil, so that other components like fans, and filters can operate at nominal conditions as designed and potentially extend the service life of HVAC components.

ABC also offers another solution for improving passenger cabin air-quality with a patented UV-C Disinfectant system for coaches. The Fresh-Aire UV® System offers heavy-duty germicidal UV technology inside the coach HVAC system, which is proven to inhibit the growth of mold and destroy up to 99% of microbial contaminants within one hour.

The chemical-free purification technology is the same that is widely used in hospitals, laboratories and the food industry to prevent the spread of airborne infectious bacteria. The Fresh-Aire UV® System is available from ABC and offers an easy installation that can help operators simplify maintenance, reduce cleaning crew exposure to harsh chemicals and provide more efficient, optimized coach operation.