Ford Patents a Way To Remove 'New Car Smell' (freep.com)

Ford has filed a patent for a method of eliminating the new car smell after a vehicle has been purchased. In the U.S., "new car smell" is beloved, but in China, customers find the odor disgusting. From a report: While the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office hasn't issued a ruling on the "vehicle odor remediation" patent application, and Ford hasn't committed to moving forward with the project, the paperwork explains what creates the odor so many Americans like: That new car smell is caused by volatile organic compounds given off by leather, plastic and vinyl. Chemicals used to attach and seal car parts may also contribute to the odor. People notice odors when compounds are released, which occurs when a car sits in high temperatures.

Ford scientists describe baking the car until the odor disappears, which happens after compounds are released. The process described in the patent involves parking the car in the sun, opening the windows slightly, and optionally turning the engine, heater and fan on.The system includes special software and various air quality sensors, and works only when fitted to a driverless or semi-autonomous vehicle. A lot of technology is involved in the patent application. The car would determine whether conditions are right to expel compounds, and the car would drive itself to a place in the sun and bake away the offensive odor.

Comments

Re:It's cultural

[Ol Olsoc]

Americans love the smell because they associate it with getting a brand new car. This is a big deal in car culture.

Exactly. The olfactory nerves are directly wired into the brain. And smell memory is maybe the most potent memory there is. New car smell instantly makes me happy. The smell of crayons takes me back to pre-school. The shore smell relaxes me. That's the good side of olfactory memory.

Chinese hate the smell because it represents chemical contamination, something they know all too well.

And we have the bad side. Many concentration camp victims would freak at the smell of chlorinated bleach. And some of the plastics and synthetic rubber coming from China has a distinct naptha smell which would fit within your analysis of their hate of chemical smells. Some others have what I think is estrogen mimics all through them.

Anyhow - very insightful post.