Water out of air
For the first time, an innovative device for extracting drinking water from the surrounding air can be found in a ŠKODA. The driver and co-driver in the AFRIQ thus have access to cooled and filtered drinking water at all times, regardless of the environment the car is being driven in.
And how does the system actually work? The device, made by the Israeli company Watergen, draws in air from the atmosphere and filters out dust and impurities. This purified air then goes through the GENius heat exchange and cooling process, where it condenses into water. In the third step, the recovered water passes through a cascade filter that purifies it again and mineralises it. In this process, UV light destroys microorganisms and breaks down harmful chemicals. The treated water is stored in a tank at 5°C and is further exposed to UV light to destroy viruses and bacteria.
For the ŠKODA AFRIQ, a tailor-made solution was assembled from existing Watergen building blocks. The tank is located on the left side of the rear door in the same box as the water filtration, mineralisation and UV purification. The cup holder, spout and display are connected and located on the dashboard within easy reach of the navigator. Water flows under the display into a cup located in the holder. The display shows the current level in the water tank and the temperature and humidity of the air the water is produced from. The main unit with fan and air filter, GENius heat exchanger, condenser and compressor is located behind the two sports seats in the rear of the AFRIQ. It is here that air is drawn in, cooled and condensed into water. The system is fully integrated into the vehicle design and can produce up to 20 litres of potable water per day, depending on the external conditions such as temperature and humidity.