Saab ready to field test the AlcoKey
We reported a long while back about Saab's plan to sharply reduce the number of drunk driving cases involving its own vehicles in Sweden and abroad. Called the AlcoKey, this small cell phone size device is basically a breathalyzer with a radio transmitter that tells your Saab whether or not you're fit to be behind the wheel. If you fail the breath test, the car won't start -- simple as that. Not only does it analyze the alcohol content in your breath, it also measures the temperature of your breath to thwart those trying to game the device by using a balloon or an air pump to pass air through it.
Saab will be field-testing the AlcoKey in Sweden with the help of various car fleet and taxi operators over the next six months in 100 vehicles. This is the last step before Saab might offer the AlcoKey as an option with the 9-5 or 9-3 sedans for 3,000 SEK ($408USD, we think).
The last two years of development have been spent shrinking the device to an acceptable size and increasing its battery life, which Saab says now stands at 12 months if the device were to be used five times a day. If you need to use the AlcoKey five times a day, then perhaps you have bigger problems than not being able to start your car.
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Jeff Banks 7:13PM (10/12/2006)
Huh...who would buy this as an option? I can see Saab owners at bars late at night bribing homeless people on the sidewalk to start up their car.
It would be better if they integrated it into the car (as opposed to a cell phone) so it wouldn't have to use tons of extra electronics, batteries ect. Good idea though given how much of a problem drunk driving is.
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emulous1974 7:41PM (10/12/2006)
So who will be the first legislator to try and mandate that this be standard equipment on all cars in the U.S.?
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thomas 10:10AM (10/13/2006)
World Car Fans' story says that the alcokey is for public service and fleet operators. So probably for rental cars, etc?
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epp_b 7:39PM (10/12/2006)
Mmm...yes, this is great. I'd love to be sold a product with an option to insult myself every time I use it. Great thinking, morons!
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Howard Kerr 7:57PM (10/12/2006)
This COULD be made mandatory for repeat drunk drivers, but how many of them drive/own Saabs?
Other countries take a more responsible attitude to drinking and driving and so there are folks who actually WOULD pay a few hundred bucks for the ability to tell if they are "legal" or not. In this country though.... I had a co-worker once confess that he knew he had a drinking and driving problem when he received his 13th DUI. Yes, that was THIRTEEN. Someone like that might go through the batteries to this thing pretty fast.
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Chivo 8:16PM (10/12/2006)
It would be smart... if you integrated it into the car. C'mon, how many people who constantly go to a bar would get this option?
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smooth sailin 8:28PM (10/12/2006)
I'd like to integrate it into a drunk driver's mouth.
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HardwareGuy 8:40PM (10/12/2006)
If you had the Alcokey you'd have to use it every time you wanted to start your car. Five times a day seems like a low estimate. Just today I've started my car 6 times, and I have at least 2 left to go. I think this should be built into the car. Imagine the replacement cost if you lost it, god forbid.
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daniel 8:43PM (10/12/2006)
A lineup of antiquated badge engineered cars and this is what they've been doing for the last 2 years?
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Ryan 9:44PM (10/12/2006)
Do they have a weed-o-meter too?
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doglet 10:18PM (10/12/2006)
why would anyone pay for this option, talk about no value added to the consumer.
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Brooks 9:59PM (10/12/2006)
I guess I have bigger problems than not being able to start my car. I frequently have to start the thing more than five times a day. What, is that a crime or something?
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dana 10:06PM (10/12/2006)
The only way this will sell is if insurance companies offer a substantial discount for having it.
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leo 10:55PM (10/12/2006)
I wish this could be made mandatory by all governments around the world
than we can get rid of most of the idiots that drive drunk, even better would be if it never stoped you from driving, but just alerts the police so they can take their asssses to jail.
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Barney 12:06AM (10/13/2006)
This device is used in some Canadian Provinces for several years now. People who "need" a vehicle and can prove it, must pay for the device themselves and have it installed. It's illegal to drive any vehcle without it during the probation. Why anyone would want it otherwise must be a secret only known to SAAB.
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Tire dealer 11:34PM (10/12/2006)
Perfect for parants with teens.
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emulous1974 8:25AM (10/13/2006)
Hmm...the cost of going to court for a DUI in most states vs. 400 bucks, you do the math. Last time I checked, you can't get a lawyer to do more than two hours worth of work for 400 bucks and that's a cheap lawyer, not to mention loss of pay, etc.
I agree that built into the car is more worth while, but for a trial period the key chain makes much more sense.
But just like car alarms don't stop cars from getting stolen, this won't stop drunk driving. I'm sick of hearing people trying to solve the results and actions of a problem rather than the problem itself.
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Cars 2:20AM (10/13/2006)
This will be an amazing device, to prevent serious accidents.
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Greg A. 1:35AM (10/13/2006)
Considering that Saab isn't profitable (GM created the Catalac — er, I mean Cadillac BLS to give Saab assembly line workers something to do), why didn't GM step in to stop the development of this thing and save some money?
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cars profile 2:39AM (10/13/2006)
I don't think some one will buy this option.
http://www.carsprofile.com/
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