Tesla’s Air Quality Index (AQI) Feature: A Breath of Fresh Air

One of the nifty little feature I’ve been enjoying on my Tesla lately is the recent addition of the AQI right on the central dashboard.

For the uninitiated, Air Quality Index (AQI) measures air quality, ranging from 0 to over 400, with 0-50 being the “good” range where air pollution poses little to no risk.

Here’s how it works in my Tesla:

Whenever the AQI climbs above 50, the dashboard lights up with the current reading.

When it drops back down below 50, the display automatically disappears.

This has become my cue to adjust my driving habits. If the AQI pops up, I immediately roll up the windows and turn on the AC. Once it disappears, I’m more inclined to open the windows and let some fresh air in.

The Business Opportunity

Well, as the saying goes, every crisis brings with it a new opportunity!

Having lived in Delhi, where winter AQI can easily soar past 300, I’m no stranger to monitoring air quality.

In India, many car manufacturers responded to this by integrating air purifiers and dedicated AQI indicators as add on features.

In fact, what started as a fancy add-on quickly became a necessity.

Even in the San Francisco Bay Area, where you wouldn’t expect high pollution, I’ve seen AQI readings climb to over 100 (the unhealthy range)!

As more cities worldwide grapple with rising pollution levels, it wouldn’t surprise me if AQI monitors and air purifiers become standard in cars everywhere.

So you want to breathe fresh air?

Car Salesman: “Absolutely, sir! We can equip your new vehicle with a top-of-the-line air purifier for an additional $5,000. It’s a small investment for a big return in clean, fresh air.” 🙂