Range is a constant concern when driving an electric car, although various onboard and offboard features and apps allow you to calculate just how far you can go before running out of power.
But what if you own an electric motorcycle? It’s not as if you have a free hand to fiddle with a screen or an app while balancing on two wheels.
That’s why electric motorcycle maker Brammo is offering a range calculation app for its Empulse model that can be displayed on a smartphone and mounted on the bike's handlebars for easy access. While the app allows Empulse riders to see their EV range at a glance, it also takes into consideration traffic conditions and performance data. Plus, it can even learn individual driving habits to further fine-tune range calculations.
The app, designed by Abalta Technologies, includes a map that overlays a green “range polygon” -- unlike the radial-shaped map seen on the Nissan Leaf -- to represent the distance the Brammo Empulse can travel round-trip before needing a recharge. It also displays the location of charging stations in an area. (We got a hands-on look at the app on a bike-mounted iPhone at the Telematics Detroit conference last week.)
To more accurately calculate the Empulse's range, the app (called EOLAS-EV) also takes into account topography, temperature and other factors that may affect mileage, as well as factors such as real-time and predictive traffic data and information on traffic lights and stop signs.
“The reality of owning an electric vehicle is you may have to spend four hours charging somewhere,” Abalta engineering manager Sychuang Na told MSN Autos. “You see on your odometer you have 31 miles of range. But what does that mean? Can you get where you want to go? That’s the real answer."
The polygon shows range in a clearer, real-world manner that's a more accurate representation of the available distance a rider can expect to travel, he added.
“We bring all this data together, send it up to our platform, which then it calculates a range,” Na said. "And the app tells you whether you’re 31 miles of range is really 31 miles -- and whether your 31 miles will actually get you to your destination."
The more a rider uses the app, the more accurate the range estimates will be, Na said.
“Someone who likes to drive 85 mph on a freeway is going to consume more energy than someone who likes to drive 65,” he said. “And someone who likes to race away from a stop light and brakes hard at the next one will get less range. So it starts to learn a driver’s behavior.”
[Source: Abalta Technologies]
Source: MSN
No comments:
Post a Comment