Ford’s EV+ system is either super awesome or super creepy — it consists of proprietary predictive software that watches where you go, and when in a familiar area and traveling a familiar route, it switches to battery-only power to save gas.
Where the Ford EV+ system fits on the sliding scale of awesome to creepy depends on how you look at the idea; either more battery-powered driving is clearly an awesome, awesome thing… or Ford is on the way to making sentient cars that will eventually try to exterminate the human race.
GPS + New Software = Ford EV+
The Ford EV+ feature is actually pretty clever; it combines Ford’s already-standard GPS with the newly developed proprietary software algorithms to figure out where you go on a regular basis. When it calculates that you have enough battery power and are near a common destination, the engine turns off and the car glides silently along in electric-only mode.
Kevin Layden, Ford director of Electrification Programs and Engineering, feels that most drivers will embrace the concept:
“We know from our research that hybrid drivers want to drive as often as they can in electric-only mode, especially near their home or frequently visited locations. EV+ not only delivers that capability, but also demonstrates how Ford puts customer needs and wants above everything else.”
Drivers can delete destinations or even turn the system off altogether, if they’re not happy with the idea. Those of you excited about it will he happy to know that the feature is standard on all of Ford’s plug-in hybrids, the C-MAX Energi, the Fusion Energi, and the Fusion and C-MAX hybrids. Check out Ford’s video explaining how to take advantage of the already pretty decent EV-mode range below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz4zFJ6FHkY&w=500&h=281]
Source: Ford
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