Hyundai and Kia are looking to expand the relationship between our cars and our smartphones even further. The automakers are developing technology allowing drivers to adjust seven different performance settings on their electric vehicles through a smartphone app. This feature is not just a concept; expect to see it on future vehicles from the two brands soon.
At first, it sounds like a bit of a gimmick. But if we consider that car-sharing could increase in the coming years, it makes sense people would want to create a driving profile on their phones that they could transfer from one vehicle to the next. Using their phones, drivers could control the maximum torque output of the motor, the ignition, acceleration and deceleration abilities, regenerative braking, responsiveness, maximum speed limit, and energy use.
The application would allow drivers to share their custom settings with other people. Blockchain technology can prevent the misuse of data, the automakers say.
The app can also recommend settings based on road conditions. Setting can also be optimized by taking into account the distance of the route and the energy required to get there.
There’s a reason why Hyundai and Kia are targeting electric vehicles for the new technology. Modifying the performance of an EV doesn’t change its carbon footprint, the automakers say. Hyundai Motor Group is already on a roll with the Kona Electric, as well as the new Soul EV and Niro EV, and it will introduce 23 electric vehicles by 2025.
Until Hyundai rolls out the new smartphone technology, our focus is on the automaker’s “Digital Key.” When it goes on sale, Hyundai will allow 2020 Sonata customers to enter or lock the car by placing their smartphone to the door handle. The app-enabled smartphone can also start the car when placed in a special charging tray.
Source: Hyundai Motor Group
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