Ford has announced a new smartphone app that’s available to BlackBerry users and will likely complement the unannounced Ford Focus Electric. The app has a wide range of features but is mainly going to be used to monitor the car’s charge. Other features include the ability to find your car via GPS, remotely unlock/lock the doors, and download performance and system data about your vehicle. Features of the MyFord Mobile app include:
- Find current and projected state of charge information including estimated range and the amount of charge time necessary for additional distances
- Program vehicle charging with utility input, allowing the car to start charging immediately or when electricity prices are lowest with the value charging feature, powered by Microsoft
- Receive alerts if the vehicle isn’t charging when it’s scheduled to, or if charging stops unexpectedly due to a power outage, plug removal or other event
- Receive alerts during recharge when the vehicle has reached a particular preset charge level or has the ability to reach a particular destination
- Engage remote vehicle preconditioning, using grid power to heat or cool the battery and vehicle interior
- Remotely lock/unlock doors
- Use the built-in GPS system to locate the car
- Download performance and system data
- Receive various achievements for driving and ownership milestones that can then be posted to your Facebook or Twitter account
- Fun ways of understanding your driver behavior, with ratings from ‘Zen’ to ‘zippy’
- Receive information personalized to the driver, depending on which key the driver used
