Honda Partners with Hitachi on New Breathalyzer Technology

Honda Motor Co. and Hitachi Ltd. have developed a prototype breathalyzer system to help prevent drunk driving.

The partners say the handheld system is more accurate than similar technologies and allows users to test themselves away from a vehicle to minimize the temptation to drive drunk if they are already in the driver’s seat. Honda and Hitachi plan to demonstrate the prototype system next month at the SAE World Congress in Detroit.

Hitachi developed the sensor technology, which detects saturated water vapors from a person's breath. The device can distinguish human breath from other gases and analyze it within three seconds. Featuring a special oxide insulator sandwiched between two electrodes, the device can detect alcohol levels as low as 0.015 mg/liter, which is one-tenth the legal limit in Japan.

Ethanol concentration is measured by three types of semiconductor gas sensors to detect ethanol, hydrogen and metabolized acetaldehyde. The system is three times as accurate as ethanol-only systems, according to the partners.

The two companies also developed a system that can show the detected alcohol level on a vehicle display. In addition, the Honda-Hitachi breathalyzer can be integrated into a smart key system so that it acts as an ignition interlock to prevent the engine from starting at preset alcohol levels. As is the case with most interlock systems, there are no provisions to prevent someone other than the driver to breathe into the device and start the car.