The smart phone has become the key – in some cases literally – to expansion of convenience-based technology in today’s cars, trucks and sport-utilities. Now, Hyundai and Kia are taking it a step further.
The companies have introduced the first-ever app that allows the user to check and adjust a variety of settings on its electric vehicles. Until now, apps have been used for everything from tracking vehicles to starting it remotely to using it as a key to get into the car.
However, this new – and, as of now, unnamed app – allows the user to change the settings on everything from speed limits, available torque, throttle response, regenerative braking, climate control usage and, of course, acceleration response.
Hyundai and Kia describe it as a “smartphone electric vehicle pairing based performance adjustment technology.” It seems pretty straightforward.
(Hyundai Venue completes Korean carmaker’s SUV roll-out. Click Here for the story.)
“We see the potential of technologies and services inherent in non-combustion vehicles,” said research fellow JeongSoo Eo from Hyundai Motor Group in a released statement.
“By developing paradigm-shifting mobility technology like this one, we will continue to strive to improve user experience for electric vehicles customized to individual preferences.”
The upside is that these setting can be customized to each driver. So Dad may get to drive like Mario Andretti where is teenage child gets settings closer to that of a more cautious driver. These setting can be carried from vehicle to vehicle in the event one owns multiple EVs.
(Click Here to check out the Hyundai Kona Electric.)
The app can analyze remaining distance on a charge and suggest the better settings for that range. Another feature in the app allows drivers to try other users’ custom settings, or to follow recommended settings from Hyundai based “on the condition of roads.”
Hyundai Motor Group will utilize blockchain technology to prevent security issues while users upload and share their custom settings on the server.
In the process of uploading and sharing custom settings, the system encrypts major performance parameters in a blockchain network by creating new data blocks and stores them in the distributed data storage system to block unauthorized manipulation.
(To see more about the Kia HabaNiro and its impact on future Kia EVs, Click Here.)
The company said it plans to have 44 “eco-friendly” vehicles, i.e. hybrids, fuel cells, etc., on the road by 2025, including 23 battery-electrics.
