THE BMW ActiveE FORUM

[Cag4]

This is a feature of a new all electric motorcylce called the Lito Sora -- seems like something like this would be really useful:

"One interesting innovation on the Sora is the way the tank-mounted GPS system is integrated with the battery management system. Punch in your destination, and the Sora will calculate how much power it needs to get you there – and it will adjust your available power along the journey to make sure you get there with charge to spare. It's a very smart feature designed to eliminate the range anxiety you tend to feel on an electric knowing that your battery is dwindling and it'll take anywhere up to several hours to get it charged back up."

Probably need to treat it a bit like cruise control by giving the driver control over the power/range management while en route -- maybe add a 3rd mode:

1. Eco Pro
2. Full Power (Sport)
3. Range Assist (the above mentioned range management tied to distance goal)

[SteveC]

I'd be happy with two other, simpler, improvements
1) When you use navigation, it could tell you how much battery you ought to have when you reach your destination
2) How about a map of known charging stations? I think the Leaf has this (at least in Japan).

[Ardie]

I forget which one it is (Tedla / LEAF / Ford Focus Electric), nut one of 'em has the GPS map show two big circles arond the car, showing the there-and-return limit, and the greater 1-way range.
If your destination lies within the circle, you're good.

We should add this, or some variant mentioned above, to the e-car "wish list" for the i-Drive system.
-- Ardiew