Volvo Cars launches Alcoguard – a car which aims to reduce drunken driving accidents

07 March 2008

Volvo Cars has pioneered an innovative feature in cars that aims at reducing the number of road accidents caused by drunken driving.

Alcoguard is a car that utilises advanced fuel cell technology, a solution that is both user friendly and reliable.

The company believes that Alcoguard is a tool, which will assist the driver to make sober decisions. Recent surveys suggest one in every three accidents in Europe is alcohol related.

Volvo's biggest challenges to create a safe traffic environment were speeding, irregular safety belt usage, and drunken driving. The Alcoguard aims at reducing road fatalities caused due to drunken driving.

Alcoguard utilises fuel cell technology – similar to the one used by a majority of police forces in Europe. Prior to starting the car, the driver has to blow into the wireless hand held unit. This remote control sized unit is stored and charged in a compartment behind the centre console. The driver's breath is analysed by this unit. The result is then transmitted to the car's electronic control system via a radio signal. If it exceeds the blood-alcohol limit of 0.2 g/l, the engine will not start. Due to the presence of advanced sensors, it is not possible to use external air sources to deceive the system.

Cecilia Svensson, Technical Manager (Alcoguard), Volvo, says, "Fuel cell technology is more expensive but it also produces far better results. Unlike semiconductors, fuel cells react only to ethanol. In fuel cell, the ethanol molecules pass through a sensitive membrane and an electrical current is generated. This current is then measured. Higher current means more alcohol in the driver's breath.''