HowTo Control a Chevy...with a DROID

[RinTinTigger]

General Motors is touting the Chevrolet Volt as a technological tour-de-force, so it’s only natural that the range-extended electric vehicle is getting its own phone app.
The General joins Mercedes-Benz and other automakers in tapping the power of smartphones to connect people with their cars and a suite of services. We knew GM was working on an app for the Volt — OnStar prez Walt Dorfstatter said so when we talked to him about OnStar’s push into China — but it wouldn’t say much about it before unveiling it at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. What it’s come up with is pretty cool.
OnStar’s Mobile Application will let Chevrolet Volt owners use their phones to start charging the car, lock the doors and even turn on the air conditioner at any time even from miles away. The program provides real-time updates on how much juice is in the battery via text message or email, and will even tell you how much gas you’re using when the engine kicks in. GM says the feature will give owners unprecedented control of, and information about, their car.
“The Chevrolet Volt ushers in a new era of automotive technology and calls for a new level of connectivity and control,” Dorfstatter said.
GM says it will help drivers “maximize the environmental benefits of owning a Volt” by allowing them to schedule exactly when the car is drawing power from the grid. That will allow people to charge the cars when rates are lowest. Other features include:

• Real-time info about the car’s fuel economy when the gasoline engine is driving the generator when the battery goes flat.
• Remote starting of the vehicle.
• Remote locking and unlocking of the doors.
• Remote starting of the air conditioner while the car while plugged into the wall to preserve battery range.

GM says Volt owners also can receive a monthly diagnostic report and maintenance reports on their cars, along with the standard safety features available through OnStar. The application works on the Apple iPhone, the Motorola Droid and the Blackberry Storm, and GM says it also will be available on a mobile browser for other smartphones.
The Volt is slated to roll off an assembly line in Detroit by the end of the year.
Photo: General Motors

Read More Chevrolet Volt Gets A Smartphone App | Autopia | Wired.com

Kinda nice right?

=)

[CorvetteAustin24]

Nice! At the CES show there's a company called Viper or something and they do car unlock systems, so it has the basic features of this, such as starting the car, unlock, panic, etc.

It'll be interesting in the future when all cars have this and kids will make fun of us for having to unlock with a bulky key haha.

[RW-1]

Lose/break/brick your phone and you lose your car controllability as well, nice!

[Martin030908]

Lose/break/brick your phone and you lose your car controllability as well, nice!

Was that dose of reality really needed

[gentlefury]

Lose/break/brick your phone and you lose your car controllability as well, nice!

You would still have a key device, this would only be for convenience of convergence. You could actually stash your key as a spare and use your phone as your main key. Hopefully there is some kind of security lock for the app tho....would suck if someone stole your phone....and your car.

[rjenk]

Well, not so much the phone as the stock Verizon car charger but...when the charger is plugged in it causes interference with my Corvette's wireless system that detects the key fob so I can't start the car. Took a bit to figure out what it was but as long as the car charger is not plugged into the lighter the push button start works. As soon as you plug it in...no key detected.

Verizon...the new LoJack.

[mjs31]

I have the 2010 Equinox and the car starter that comes standard is not great for distance. I would love to be able to start my car, on the cold and hot days, from a ways away. Not getting the Volt though.

[Sam]

I have wanted a Volt since back when it was ugly (well, uglier..). I love the idea of an electric car with a gas engine as a generator... oh, and being as it already likes my phone, that's nice too.

[GenkiElite]

Hey great! Finally a reason to buy a Chevy lol!!

[GenkiElite]

Im guessing that since OnStar is a part of VZW we can expect to see this type of app for any OnStar equipped vehicle.