WiFi Connectivity for vehicle control scheduling

[skidoofast]

"I'm so happy someone is coming out with cheep basic transpiration! But I want them to come out the gate with these advanced features included!" Seems to be a real theme.

I develop iOS applications. I've been involved in developing over 30 apps, most of them for startups.

• AI assistance is still very much in its infancy for mobile development.
• The "app" they demoed at the opening event was nothing more than a few hand drawn images in a slide show type presentation format. Effectively a power point presentation.
• They haven't even hired a Head of Automotive Software yet.
• Their minimum viable product app would take 9 months to a year for an already established team.
• I'm pretty sure they have already established that the vehicle will not have cellular or wifi. Even vehicle software updates will be through a hardware connection to your phone.

In essence, do not expect to be able to do anything to the physical vehicle through your phone. Remotes don't use bluetooth, wifi, or cellular.

though I kind of want WiFi connectivity it is really a NON issue for me, there have been comments from Slate about the possibility

this being my first ev I don’t know if the batteries need to be heated in the winter or cooled in the summer and my though is it would be best to do this on the charger and if you know you are leaving at 6am have the ability to program that

My sons CFMOTO $6,500 motorcycle tells his phone if someone moves his bike, tells him where it’s at and the fuel level and he pays nothing for that

 

[danielt1263]

My sons CFMOTO $6,500 motorcycle tells his phone if someone moves his bike, tells him where it’s at and the fuel level and he pays nothing for that

Understand, the marginal cost of software is practically zero, even if a server is involved. It's the development of the software that's the huge money sink, and development is where Slate is at right now.

Your son is not paying money for that service, but it means that the vehicle has cellular built in. That's something that I'm reasonably sure Slate has said will not be available. Or maybe it uses the geotag system, like what is used for pet-tags and luggage...

Personally, when it comes to software features, I'm not expecting anything more than what I have on my 2015 Kia.

 

[Garbone]

As long as it interfaces with Android Auto I will be good. If the pack turns out to be LFP charging to 100% daily would be fine and scheduling can be handled by the charger at to time of day.

Day to day the only connected function I use on my Ford is remote climate and juicing to 100 instead of 90 if going on a trip.

One thing I will need is a combination lock box to put my keys, phone and wallet in if at a beach or water park.

 

[AKrietzer]

As someone new to EVs, my questions are, how do you set it to charge to only 80% and not to 100%? Is that a feature on the vehicle or an app? How do you precondition it, or warm up the batteries on a cold day before you drive? Is that an app feature or do you have to set it in the vehicle? If Slate is not going to be connected to WiFi, will it use Bluetooth for these features? My newest vehicles, 2011 and 2012 have no Internet connection, so this is all new to me.

 

[Garbone]

As someone new to EVs, my questions are, how do you set it to charge to only 80% and not to 100%? Is that a feature on the vehicle or an app? How do you precondition it, or warm up the batteries on a cold day before you drive? Is that an app feature or do you have to set it in the vehicle? If Slate is not going to be connected to WiFi, will it use Bluetooth for these features? My newest vehicles, 2011 and 2012 have no Internet connection, so this is all new to me.

We have 2 MachE that have NCM batteries that 100% can shorten battery life, You can set the level of charge in the car via the center screen. This can be set location specific (ours are set to 90% at home 100% everywhere else) if we want to go over 90% at home we have to tell the car to do it. These things can also be done in the Ford pass phone app. In addition to starting the climate remotely. Also in there is battery preconditioning and such other finer adjustments. Living in Florida I have never felt the need to precondition my battery but understand it is important up north. Ford has a departure schedule you can set up to precondition by day of week, I myself have never used it but it is there.

My understanding is Slate will be using their app exclusively for these things and the phone or tablet needs to be docked to the USB port to push settings and updates. The interface will be the app but the actual doing things will be resident in the Trucks internal management computer.

IMO this is perfectly acceptable. I tend to plug my phone into my MachE when I drive as the Android Auto can get flakey over the Bluetooth in addition to my phone does not have wireless charging because I am cheap and keep junk on the charging pad.

 

[AZFox]

but it also sounds like you might not have WIFI at home and are on this forum through a hardwired home computer and use an old flip phone

Your assessment is way off. Ad-hominem nonsense like that isn't helpful.

My posts were only intended to point out that whiz-bang connectivity features necessarily give rise to security and privacy concerns.

Most people are unaware they're trading away some security, and even some personal autonomy, to get those features.

The Slate Truck will be able to be used without internet-connected features. That's an unusual and appealing characteristic for it to have.

 

[AZFox]

As long as it interfaces with Android Auto I will be good.

Portable CarPlay / Android Auto screens are available and inexpensive. I assume you can put one of them in something similar to the optional Tablet Holder and be golden.