By Stephen Longden, SBD ITS and Telematics Specialist
GM has launched a website, www.myvolt.com, that allows drivers of the Chevrolet Volt electric car to schedule battery charging and access information on battery condition and mileage via a smartphone app or PC. The website will be operated by GM’s OnStar division that will also provide remote diagnostics services for the Volt.
Once the Volt owner has connected the car to his home, OnStar is planning to schedule recharging times based on the cheapest rate. GM is starting to cooperate with utility companies, such as DTE, PG&E and Duke Energy, to gain access to electricity prices. OnStar says it also plans to link MyVolt.com to home energy management applications such as Microsoft’s Hohm.
MyVolt.com will provide a monthly diagnostic check-up that all OnStar users receive. Volt owners will also receive additional information on fuel economy and the miles driven using battery power or petrol.
The emergence of electric vehicles is a significant opportunity for the telematics industry as in-car services can help both consumers and vehicle manufacturers. Telematics could assist consumers by reducing ‘range anxiety’ through locating, booking and guiding to charging stations. Vehicle manufacturers are looking to telematics to allow them to monitor the performance of their new energy vehicles through remote diagnostics applications. This will allow them to quickly identify any teething problems as electric vehicles move towards the mainstream.
In addition to the integration of OnStar with the Volt model, GM is attempting to promote OnStar by encouraging insurance companies in the US, such as State Farm, Liberty Mutual and Century 21, to provide savings to consumers that have OnStar subscriptions. GM claims that the risk profile of OnStar users is lower than the general population. GM is investigating the possibility of providing monitoring data from the OnStar system to insurance companies. This would facilitate the provision of Pay As You Drive insurance services.