Web and Mobile Controls for Electric Car Charging

This post, part of a series we're running all about electric cars, was written by Stephanie Crawford from HowStuffWorks.com.

Did you ever think of your car as being part of your social network? Perhaps you could get a text message when you're low on fuel, or log in to a Web site to see how efficiently your car ran last week. What if these were standard features on every car?

Using software to interact with a vehicle isn't new. Professionals have been using devices and software to monitor their fleets of commercial vehicles for some time. Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are now bringing that technology to the average driver. Their approach is to provide simple, convenient Web and mobile phone applications for controlling and monitoring your EV's battery charge and other features.

These Web and mobile controls might be a key factor in EV success. As a driver, you're already familiar with the range your car can get with a full tank of gas. But what about your EV's range from a full electric charge? Having the ability to network with your car means you can keep an eye on your EV's charge level and get familiar with your range, even when you're not in the car. Plus, you can remotely control its charge settings, such as scheduling it to only charge during off-peak times when power costs less per kilowatt hour.

Auto manufacturers have stepped up early to make these Web and mobile controls available for their new EV products. GM is continuing its partnership with satellite communication company OnStar for these services. OnStar has developed a mobile application for iPhone and Android smartphones for the Chevrolet Volt. Scheduled to launch in late October 2010, the OnStar Mobile application lets Volt owners see the current charge level of the car and control the times of day the car will charge when it's plugged in. It will even send a text message if there's a problem while charging, such as a disconnected power cable. This extends the OnStar-driven MyVolt.com, where Volt owners can control and monitor their cars through a secure Web site and even show off their energy efficiency on Facebook and Twitter.

Nissan is branching out to Microsoft for its EV. According to Microsoft, the 2011 LEAF EV will have Windows Embedded Automotive technology powering its touch-screen "Information Hub" built into the car. Besides the navigation and entertainment features you'd find in other cars with this technology, the LEAF's hub will let the driver monitor the car's charge and help locate a charging station. At the LEAF Web site, Nissan states that the LEAF will also have a Web site and mobile applications that network with the car for monitoring and controlling it remotely.

It isn't just the owners who could benefit from remotely controlled EVs. Google has been working on driverless car technology that could free you to spend a safe, energy-efficient commute enjoying coffee and catching up on e-mail. Until EVs can implement Google's innovative technology, though, you can still take charge of your EV experience through the Web and mobile controls described here.