Project EVIE Blog

Anyone familiar with boats knows that for a number of years, seamen have been using GPS devices that, taking into account tides, currents, wind direction and weather, chart the most fuel efficient course to your destination. These devices have saved boaters thousands of dollars in fuel costs, not to mention the thousands of grams of CO2 they saved from going into the atmosphere.

Now, something similar is happing in EVs. It’s called AutOS, and it’s the on-board software system BetterPlace unveiled this week at the Frankfurt motor show. Using Microsoft’s “Windows Embedded” system and Intel’s Atom Processor, AutOS will run on the video display of a head unit designed by German engineering company Continental and will be installed in every BetterPlace-compatible car.

On a basic level, this MMI (man-machine interface) will manage the car’s multimedia, climate control, and show the battery’s charge status and remaining range. On a not-so-basic level, AutOS will display all the charging stations in the surrounding area, and will even tell you which ones use clean power. It will also display all the nearby battery-swap stations, and, if needed, will allocate a battery for you in advance at one of these swap stations, so that a fully-charged battery’s waiting for you when you get there.

What is most cool about the AutOS though is its intelligent navigation system. Drivers simply plug in their intended destination, and, taking into account traffic patterns, the car’s range, and charging/battery-swap stations, AutOS will plot the most energy- and time-efficient route. Meaning drivers will get to where they want to go as quickly and as cheaply as possible – with the least amount of electrons expended, and without any worry of ever running out of juice!

For a demonstration of how the AutOS could improve your life, check out this video: