DETROIT – Thanks to the new MyFord Mobile app introduced exclusively with the all-new Ford Focus Electric owners can plug in and walk away from their vehicles while staying connected. The technology is on display at the North American International Auto Show.
It may be a harbinger of things to come in the automotive industry, where advanced technology electric vehicles are driving corresponding advances in consumer communications technology.
MyFord Mobile technology provides Focus Electric owners in North America with a powerful tool to stay connected, monitor and control their vehicles. It works using a Smartphone or a secure website and lets owners plan trips, monitor the vehicle’s state of charge, receive various alerts for vehicle charging, and several other features designed to simplify the electric vehicle ownership experience.
MyFord Mobile is a primary feature in the suite of tools Focus Electric owners in North America will have to help them manage the recharge process and involve them engagingly.
“We’re putting battery charge and vehicle range information, along with an interactive, data-driven trip planning app right at customers’ fingertips,” said Ed Pleet, Ford Connected Services manager. “That’s going to get drivers involved and excited about the electric car ownership experience.”
MyFord Mobile uses an on-board wireless module integrated into Focus Electric that allows the car to communicate off-board via standard cellular technology. Owners can use any connected mobile phone with a data plan or computer with Internet access when not operating a vehicle to find current and projected state of charge information including estimated range and the amount of charge time necessary for additional distances. There are also a number of vehicle charging controls that enable the Focus Electric owner to program vehicle charging with utility input, allowing the car to start charging immediately or when electricity prices are lowest with the value charging feature, powered by Microsoft.
Among the most innovative and practical features is the unique MapQuest application that enables owners to gauge the location of charging systems and to use the MapQuest application to plan trips or vacations accordingly. Using features powered by MapQuest,, owners will be able to locate charging stations and get the destination sent to the vehicle and determine if the vehicle can reach a specific charge station from its current location with the current charge level. Users will also be able to create a journey with multiple stops, and determine the likelihood that the car has adequate charge for the full journey. And if owners find themselves lost or somehow separated from their car, they have the option to find the car by creating a route from a mobile phone to the vehicle.
A number of other features, ranging from presets for cabin heating or cooling, GPS location of the vehicle, vehicle performance data, and even social networking integration are available.
Ed Pleet, Ford Connected Service Manager adds: “Ford recognizes the electric vehicle ownership experience is going to be new for just about everyone. Our goal is not just to provide the most practical, enjoyable electric car on the market, but also to give drivers the information, applications and resources they need to feel confident about choosing fun, environmentally conscious transportation.”
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