Ford launches Personalized Fuel Efficiency Apps Challenge – win $50,000!

By Stephen Edelstein Published March 28, 2013

Ford is looking to use technology to give consumers more accurate fuel economy data. At the 2013 New York Auto Show Jim Farley, Ford Executive vice president of global marketing, sales, service, and Lincoln announced the Personalized Fuel Efficiency Apps Challenge to spur creation of a better mpg calculator.

The goal of the Challenge is to “create an app to improve everyone’s fuel economy,” Farley said.

Recommended Videos

Ford will award $50,000 to the independent developer that creates the best app for measuring real-world fuel economy, and Ford will give developers full access to its software and hardware to make that possible.

“Customers are starting to tune out,” Farley said of current fuel economy measurements based on EPA test data. He also said EPA measurements are less-than-optimal because they aren’t universal and are subject to individual owners’ driving styles.

Ford’s alternative is based on data. Farley cited Mint.com, Nike+Fuel, and the fuel economy crowd sourcing site Fuelly.com as templates.

How will Ford acquire better data than a test designed specifically to measure fuel economy? By taking advantage of cars’ increasing self-awareness.

“Cars are rolling computers,” Farley said. An app could potentially harvest the data from the many sensors in most new cars, sensors that monitor everything from wheel speed to steering angle.

Through Ford’s Open XC architecture, developers will be able to access this data through the auto industry standard OBD II (onboard diagnostic) port. This will also allow any apps or future hardware to be able to “talk” to a car’s systems.

Ford launched a similar scheme at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The Ford Developer Program’s goal is to create an app designed specifically for the company’s Sync AppLink infotainment platform.

In recent months, Ford has had its own problems with the vagaries of fuel economy, too. Numerous reports that the fuel economy figures for the 2013 Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid don’t hold up in the real world became a public relations black eye last December.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Hyundai’s brand new Ioniq 9 EV features backseat lounge

hyundai ioniq 9 lounge 4 single image desktop

After months of teasing details about the Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s much-anticipated, three-row electric SUV, the company finally unveiled it at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

One of the Ioniq 9’s promised features -- that the SUV had the ability to offer a lounge-like interior – had most of us wondering what exactly that might mean.

Cars

Kia America COO says ending EV tax credit would be dumb

kia coo ending ev incentive dumb zeta evs

With Kia just getting started with the expansion of its U.S.-made electric-vehicle (EV) lineup, the automaker may have a good perspective on what losing tax incentives on EVs could mean for the industry and the economy.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is reportedly planning to end the federal $7,500 tax credit on the purchase or lease of an EV. Under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), an EV made in North America is eligible for the incentive.

Cars

Mercedes bets solar paint is part of EV-charging future

mercedes solar paint evs benz electric camper

It’s been said that Albert Einstein’s genius came from his ability to freely wonder and ask child-like questions way before he even tried applying science-based solutions.
It seems some within the R&D department at Mercedes-Benz might be similarly inspired. The German automaker is currently developing a special solar paint that, when applied on the surface of vehicles, can harness enough energy from the sun to power up EVs.
The energy generated by the paint’s solar cells can be used for driving or fed directly into a high-voltage battery.
“The photovoltaic system is permanently active and also generates energy when the vehicle is switched off,” Mercedes says. “In the future, this could be a highly effective solution for increased electric range and fewer charging stops.”
The layer of paste to be applied on EVs is significantly thinner than a human hair, yet its photovoltaic cells are packed full of energy. Covering the surface of a mid-size SUV with the paint could produce enough energy for up to 7,456 miles per year under ideal conditions, Mercedes says.
This does imply being in geographic locations with plenty of sun hours during the day.
But even with less-than-ideal sun hours, the energy yielded can make a significant difference to EV charging. Mercedes says the solar-paint charge could provide 100% of needed energy for an average daily drive of 32 miles in sun-drenched Los Angeles. In much less sunny conditions -- such as around Mercedes’ headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany -- it would still yield enough energy for 62% of the distance.
An added bonus for environmentally-conscious drivers: Unlike some solar panels, the solar paint contains no rare earth or silicon – only non-toxic, readily available raw materials. It’s also easy to recycle and considerably cheaper to produce than conventional solar modules, Mercedes says.
The likes of Aptera, Sono Motors, Lightyear, and Hyundai have also been researching how to best harness solar energy to power up EVs.
But that’s been mostly through solar panels yielding enough energy for small and light vehicles, such as Aptera’s three-wheel solar EV. Solar paint could bring solar charging for bigger vehicles, such as electric SUVs, Mercedes says.