Cars can get smelly over time, especially for vehicles that are used by smokers. Like your home, your car’s interiors can also play host to various airborne impurities like dust, bacteria, viruses, odors, and allergens—all of which threaten your health, comfort, and well-being.
This is precisely why car air purification ionizers exist. They help uphold the quality of air inside your vehicle to make sure that you enjoy a clean and fresh environment during your daily commute. If you’re looking for a travel-friendly air purifier for your car, this article is for you: read on to know more about getting the best car air purifier ionizer for your needs.
Top 6 Car Air Purifier Ionizers Comparison
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1. Thinkga FIGO3 Car Ionizer
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2. FRiEQ Car Air Purifier
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3. Pickpro 2018 Car Air Purifier
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4. ieGeek Car Air Purifier
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5. BNOWI Portable Car Air Purifier
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6. PURE 3-in-1 Car Air Purifier
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The Air Purifier Ionizers Reviews
1. Thinkga FIGO3 Car Ionizer
Removing up to 99.9% of airborne particles from the air, the Thinkga Car Ionizer is a great model for vehicle owners who want help to get rid of smoke, dust, pollen, mold, and harmful gases in the air. This air purification device is compact and sleek, boasting an aluminum alloy construction that makes it resistant to impact.
It produces less than 30 decibels of noise when operating, and it can also be used in small rooms up to 32 square feet thanks to its plug that is adaptable to a conventional outlet. When used inside a vehicle, you can directly plug it into the cigarette lighter outlet to power the device. Lastly, with a power rating of under 12 watts, it’s one of the most energy efficient air purifiers on the market today.
Pros
- Produces less than 30 decibels of noise when it runs
- Energy efficient
- May be used for small rooms
- Dual USB port
- Adjustable speed
- Premium build
- Fits in car cup holder
Cons
- A bit more expensive than other car air purifiers
2. FRiEQ Car Air Purifier
This air purifier from FRiEQ is another good option for car owners who are looking to ensure that they breathe fresh and clean air inside their vehicle. It produces up to 4.8 million ions per cubic centimeter and boasts odor-fighting capabilities on top of some germ-killing action. The downsides are that it produces some ozone and thus is unavailable for California residents.
Its compact and modern design is one of the most aesthetically-pleasing among this bunch, which makes it a great aesthetic addition to your car. According to Amazon reviews, it’s also easy to install and operate. So if you’re a fan of no-fuss gadgets, you definitely want to take a closer look at this model.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Low car battery power consumption
- Removes airborne bacteria
- Eliminates unwanted odors
- Quiet
- Affordable
Cons
- Generates ozone
- Doesn’t ship to California
3. Pickpro 2018 Car Air Purifier
The Pickpro 2018 car air purifier helps control the presence of pollutants like smoke, dust, dust mites, and germs inside cars up to 318 cu. ft. This is accomplished through ionization and a bit of ozone generation, which is a potential cause of concern in terms of safety. As such, you might want to run this purifier only when your car is unoccupied (and, again, you won’t be able to buy this model in California). Another negative is its short 30-day warranty.
On the other hand, many consumers have praised it for being effective at keeping their vehicles smelling fresh, as well as the convenience brought by its two USB charging ports. At such an affordable price point, it’s a promising option for frugal shoppers and bargain hunters.
Pros
- With light indicator
- Eliminates unwanted odors and airborne particles
- Hassle-free use
- Kills bacteria and viruses
- With two USB ports
- Affordable
Cons
- Generates ozone
- Short warranty
- Doesn’t ship to California
4. ieGeek Car Air Purifier
This car air purifier ionizer from ieGeek, which claims to purify in a span of 3 to 10 minutes depending on the size of your vehicle, adds in both a HEPA filter and a carbon filter to help the device filter out dust, pollen, odors, and other unwanted particles from the air more efficiently. The presence of these filters, however, means you have to buy replacements every four to six months. Obviously, this might not be a good thing for big fans of low maintenance models.
This model also boasts a unique aromatherapy slot which you can use to add a nice fragrance to the circulating air inside your car. Some users reported getting headaches because of the included aroma piece, though, so it’s best to skip on using it if you’re sensitive to strong fragrance. Lastly, it sports a dual charger capability, which means you can power it using your car’s cigarette lighter port or a normal USB port.
Pros
- Has a HEPA filter
- Eliminates unwanted odors
- Removes airborne germs
- Reasonably-priced
- Aromatherapy slot feature
- Easy to use
- Dual charger
Cons
- Needs regular filter replacements
- The included fragrance is too strong for some users
5. BNOWI Portable Car Air Purifier
The BNOWI portable car air purifier uses a True HEPA filter, a HESA filter, and an ionizer to remove impurities from the air and promote a fresh and clean smell. It’s also designed to eliminate airborne bacteria and viruses, which should make your car’s interior healthier. Note that the filters need to be replaced every three to six months, so you have to be ready to put in a bit of maintenance work.
Although the unit itself is easy to install, some users found it inconvenient that the included instructions were in Chinese, and English instructions had to be searched online. Another buyer remarked that it wasn’t particularly helpful against pet hair, but it appears to work great against odors. There’s also an included aromatherapy slot for when you want to infuse your car’s interior with fragrance.
Pros
- Quiet
- Reasonably-priced
- Has a HEPA filter
- Eliminates exhaust fumes and unwanted odors
- Removes airborne germs
- Aromatherapy slot feature
- Easy to install
Cons
- Needs regular filter replacements
- Not that effective at removing pet hair
6. PURE 3-in-1 Car Air Purifier
PURE’s 3-in-1 car air purifier combines ionization and ozone generation to combat dust, odors, germs, and smoke. As with all the other ozone-producing models on this list, it is best to use this unit only when your car is unoccupied.
Although it’s supposed to be a universal car air purifier, a small number of reviewers reported that this premium-build model (it’s made of metal instead of the more common plastic) doesn’t fit into some car models. Fortunately, it comes with a money-back guarantee, which is useful in case you have to return it. It also reportedly gives off a slight buzzing noise, but this is only noticeable if you drive in complete silence. Finally, the inclusion of two USB charging ports, which support 3.0 quick charge, is another highlight. It also comes with a multi-use charging cable that can be used with various phone models.
Pros
- Eliminates unwanted odors and pollutants
- Easy to use
- Kills bacteria and viruses
- Premium build
- Equipped with two quick charge USB ports
- Multi-use charging cable for mobile phones
- Reasonably-priced
Cons
- Generates ozone
- Gives off a slight buzzing noise
- Not compatible with some car models
Buyer’s Guide:
Car Air Purifier Ionizers
Why You Should Use an Air Purifier in the Car
Most people don’t realize that the quality of air inside their cars can be just as important as that in their homes or offices, especially for those who spend a significant chunk of their days on the road. Whether you commute to far places every day or live in an area with bad traffic, having a healthier environment inside your vehicle can play a significant role in improving your quality of life.
Some additional benefits of a car air purifier include:
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1. It combats tobacco smoke and odors.
If you (or a loved one) smoke cigarettes, chances are you’re guilty of lighting up inside or near your vehicle. Sure, leaving the windows open while you’re smoking helps, but tobacco smoke can still infiltrate the car’s interiors and linger there for a while, causing foul smells to arise. Car air purifiers can help rid the vehicle of unpleasant tobacco odors by removing smoke particles from the air.
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2. It helps lessen headaches from car exhaust leaks.
Poor air quality inside the vehicle you drive can trigger headaches for passengers. This can happen as a direct result of the vehicle’s exhaust leaking, which results to toxic fumes entering the car. These fumes cause unbearable headaches if you’re unlucky enough to get exposed. Air purifiers are capable of ridding the insides of your car of exhaust fumes.
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3. It helps reduce allergens and bacteria in the air.
Harmful particles and impurities lurking inside your car can trigger an array of allergy and asthma symptoms. Using an air purifier inside your car can help remove harmful bacteria, allergens, and all sorts of airborne impurities to help protect your respiratory health.
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4. Your vehicle’s interiors will smell better overall.
The ride to work and back (or to the store and back) will be more pleasant with the addition of a car purifier ionizer. Air purifiers have the ability to remove odor molecules, which equates to an overall better experience while you’re sitting behind the wheel. This also helps prevent embarrassing situations from happening, so you won’t have to worry the next time someone asks you for a ride.
How are car air purifiers different from regular air purifiers?
You might be wondering why we called our list the best car purification ionizers on the market, instead of simply the best car air purifiers. Well, this is because most car air purifiers depend on ionization to clean the air inside your vehicle.
Regular air purifiers don’t have to battle with size constraints, so they’re usually fitted with more filters and technology, such as carbon filters, pre-filters, and UV-C. Car air purifiers, however, strive to be as compact as possible so they don’t become too obtrusive. With that said, ionization is the most popular and feasible technology for these devices because it can be fitted easily into small units. Granted, two of the models we’ve included here feature a HEPA filter, but they’re visibly bigger than the standard stick-type car air purifier.
Another major difference concerns power supply. While regular air purifiers are operated by plugging into conventional power outlets, car air purifiers are powered through your car’s lighter port. Some models feature dual-charging capability, meaning they can be charged through USB as well. Of course, this is a plus since you’ll be able to power the air purifier using a power bank (or any other device with a USB port) if ever the cigarette lighter port is unavailable.
As for the difference between car air purifier ionizers and personal air purifiers, the former has a generally-higher ion output than the latter. Remember, personal air purifiers are designed to purify the air only within an individual’s personal space. Car air purifiers, on the other hand, are designed to provide purification for all the occupants inside a vehicle.
Essential Shopping Guidelines
For a car ionizing purifier to be effective at ridding the air inside your car of pollutants, it must be equipped with specific specs and features. The points outlined below discuss the essentials that you need to look for when searching the market for the perfect ionizing air filtration system for your car.
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Ability to Eliminate Airborne Particles
Obviously, the most important spec to look into when purchasing an air purifier for your car is its capability to eliminate airborne pollutants like bacteria, dust, and other particles. You might want to aim for a model with high efficiency; that is, it should be able to eliminate more than 99 percent of particle pollutants.
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Number of Negative Ions Produced per Cubic Centimeter
As discussed above, the negative ions produced by an ionizer have the ability to supplement its pollutant-fighting capacity. When it comes to negative ion production, the bigger the amount, the better it is.
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Capability to Remove Unpleasant Odors
With the amount of time you spend in your car, the last thing you’d want is a foul-smelling vehicle. Funky odors inside your car will not only make your vehicle less comfortable, they can also be the culprit behind embarrassing situations. For this reason, we recommend that you invest in a high-quality air purification system which can eliminate these unpleasant odors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are the negative ions produced?
Negative ions can be generated in multiple ways, but the most common, especially among ionizing car air purifiers, is by generating a low level of electric current on the ion emitter. This produces electrons, which are then ejected into the air inside the vehicle. These electrons attach to airborne molecules, which result in these molecules obtaining a negative charge due to the extra electrons.
Are negative ions similar to ozone?
No, they are actually quite different. Commonly, negative ions are normal oxygen molecules (that is, with two oxygen atoms per molecule) that have been charged with additional electrons. Meanwhile, ozone is a molecule that consists of three oxygen atoms. Another major difference between the two stands in the major role they play. Negative ions mainly help in reducing particulates in the air, while ozone is more geared towards the elimination of strong odors. Note that some car air purifiers are both ionizing and ozone-generating.
Do negative ions help eliminate unpleasant car odors?
While it’s true that negative ions are not as effective as ozone when it comes to the removal of strong odors, air ionizers can still help rid the air of impurities and leave it smelling fresh and clean. This has been reported by numerous customers who have already purchased and used car ionizers that emit negative ions.
Final Thoughts
Car air purifiers that mainly rely on ionization present a cost-effective and hassle-free solution to the presence of unwanted pollutants inside your car. If you don’t mind paying a bit more for a model that is effective, well-built, and ozone-free, the Thinkga FIGO3 Car Ionizer is your best bet. If you’re only starting to explore the world of car air purifiers and are looking for a budget buy, then we recommend the 2018 Car Air Purifier from Pickpro.
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