Can the car ION function be kept on all the time?
2 Answers
The car ION function can be kept on all the time, and enabling this function can purify the air inside the car. ION Button: The ION button in the car refers to the negative ion air purification function of the vehicle. When this function is enabled, the negative ion generator produces and releases a large number of negative ions. Since dust, particles, and harmful substances like formaldehyde in the air can easily adhere to these negative ions, they form larger particles and settle down. These are then filtered out by the air filter, achieving the effect of purifying the air inside the car. Simply put, this function transforms tiny particles that cannot be filtered by the air filter into larger particles that can be filtered, by attaching them to negative ions, thereby achieving the purification effect. The negative ion air purification function is usually equipped in higher-end models, and vehicles without this function naturally do not have an ION button. For vehicles equipped with the negative ion air purification function but without a physical ION button, the function is generally integrated into the central control screen. After opening the air conditioning interface on the screen, the ION touch button can be clearly seen.
I often encounter this issue during my driving days. It is indeed feasible to keep the car air conditioning running continuously during long trips, as modern vehicles are designed with continuous usage in mind. However, there are a few points to note: keeping it on will increase fuel consumption because the AC compressor is driven by the engine, which can raise fuel consumption by about 10% to 20%. Especially during traffic jams or idling, be cautious of excessive engine load, which may lead to carbon buildup issues. Additionally, prolonged usage can affect battery life, particularly when turning on the AC immediately after a cold start, as this places a heavy burden on the electrical system. From personal experience, it’s fine to keep the AC running continuously on highways, as it doesn’t significantly impact efficiency. However, in city driving with frequent red lights, it’s wiser to turn it off or use an energy-saving mode while waiting, ensuring comfort while reducing waste. For vehicle maintenance, regularly checking the AC filter is sufficient to avoid odors and performance degradation—overall, it’s not a major issue.
