A vehicle system includes: a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including: a passenger cabin air filter; and a blower configured to draw air through the passenger cabin air filter and blow air into a passenger cabin of a vehicle; an olfaction sensor configured to measure an amount of a chemical in air in a duct of the HVAC system downstream of the passenger cabin air filter; and a filter module configured to determine and indicate whether to replace the passenger cabin air filter based on the amount of the chemical in the air measured by the olfaction sensor.

A vehicle system includes: an olfaction sensor comprising: a blower configured to draw air from a passenger cabin through an inlet; a sensor located downstream of the inlet and including one or more proteins configured to measure an amount of a chemical in the air passing the sensor; and a purge source configured to selectively flows a purge gas into the sensor; and a control module configured to selectively take one or more remedial actions based on the amount of the chemical in the air.

A vehicle system includes: an olfaction sensor comprising: a blower configured to draw air through an inlet; a filter configured to filter particulate from the air; and a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor disposed downstream of the filter and configured to measure an amount of VOCs in air after the air flows through the filter; and a control module configured to selectively take one or more remedial actions based on the amount of VOCs.

A vehicle system includes: at least one of: a particulate matter sensor configured to measure an amount of particulate within a passenger cabin of a vehicle; and a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor configured to measure an amount of VOCs within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including a blower; a blower control module configured to: operate the blower in a first direction and blow air into the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and based on at least one of the amount of particulate and the amount of VOCs within the passenger cabin of the vehicle, selectively operate the blower in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, thereby blowing air from within the passenger cabin out through the HVAC system.

A vehicle system includes: at least one of: a sensor configured to measure an amount of a chemical in air within a passenger cabin of a vehicle; and a camera configured to capture images within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a control module configured to: detect smoking within the passenger cabin based on the at least one of the amount of the chemical and at least one of the images; and in response to smoking being detected within the passenger cabin, adjust operation of at least one of a luxury feature of the vehicle and a comfort feature of the vehicle.

A vehicle system includes: a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor configured to measure an amount of a VOC within a passenger cabin of a vehicle; a particulate matter sensor configured to measure an amount of particulate matter within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; a triggering module configured to, during a use of the vehicle, selectively trigger the VOC and particulate matter sensors to measure the amount of the VOC and the amount of particulate matter; an odor database including a mapping of amounts of VOCs and amounts of particulate matter to odors; and an odor determination module configured to, using the odor database, determine an odor introduced into the passenger cabin of the vehicle during the use of the vehicle based on the measured amounts of VOCs and particulate matter.

A vehicle system includes: an olfaction sensor comprising: a blower configured to draw air through an inlet; a dehumidifier configured to decrease a humidity of the air; and a sensor located downstream of the dehumidifier and configured to measure an amount of a chemical in the air after the air flows through the dehumidifier; and a control module configured to selectively take one or more remedial actions based on the amount of the chemical in the air measured by the sensor.

A vehicle system includes: a blower configured to draw air from within a passenger cabin of a vehicle through an inlet; a binding agent source configured to flow a binding agent into the air; and a sensor disposed downstream of the binding agent source in the direction of airflow, the sensor configured to determine an amount of smoke in the air from within the passenger cabin based on a measured characteristic of particulate at the sensor and a predetermined characteristic of the binding agent.

A vehicle system includes: smoke sensors located at different locations within a passenger cabin of a vehicle and configured to measure amounts of cigarette smoke at the locations, respectively, within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a smoking module configured to, based on the measured amounts of cigarette smoke, determine that: a smoking event occurred at a first location within the passenger cabin; and the smoking event did not occur at a second location that is different than the first location within the passenger cabin of the vehicle.

Disclosed is a ventilation module for improving the efficiency of a vehicle HVAC system. The ventilation module includes a return air duct having an outlet to be coupled to the HVAC system. The ventilation module also includes a fresh air duct, a heat exchanger, and first and second doors. The first and second doors connect the return and fresh air ducts upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger. By selectively opening or closing the first and second doors, the ventilation module provides the HVAC system with desired return, fresh or mixed air through the outlet of the return air duct.