Ford has created a new smart phone app that goes hand in hand with the brand new Ford Focus electric. Ford has revealed its functionalities, with many of the automotive press praising the app.
The MyFord Mobile app will be made available to all three smart phone operating systems, the iOS, Blackberry OS and Android. The new app will only be made available once the car is placed into showrooms.
Clever
The app is so clever that drivers will be rewarded for safer and cleaner driving, drive around on the last bit of running electricity and charge up their car in the cheapest way possible.
How much left?
The amount of juice left in the car is displayed to the user in a very detailed way. Not only will you be able to see the percentage of the amount of fuel that is left, but you will be able to check how many miles there are left to drive. The information isn’t generic either. Everything is estimated depending on the driver’s history and method of driving.
Route planning
Using the MyFord app users will be able to check on the very nearest electric charging station route planning can be designed for drivers to identify to take a specific route whereby electric charging stations are available.
Incentives
Seeing how your driving effects the amount electric charge and fuel that is left in such a detailed way may indeed bring drivers to improve their habits. Driving in a more stable and sensible fashion will bring about greater safety amongst roads. National competitions through a social network integrated into the MyFord app will create even more of an incentive for drivers.
Cheapest electricity rates
From home the electric charge can be manipulated so that the Focus can charge itself overnight when the cheapest rates are in force.
Set off functions before going in
Before you set off in the winter, the car’s heating is able to be switched on allowing you to jet off in warmth immediately rather than driving around waiting for the car to be warmed up.
The Ford Focus Electric has not been made available yet to America or the UK. After hearing of the app the car is surely even more anticipated amongst fans.
Following Volkswagen’s announcement to make their factories less harmful to the environment, Ford is following suit.Ford aim to reduce water usage during production of cars by 30 per cent.
Water is the most important natural resource on earth, despite the likes of diamonds and oil making tycoons billions of pounds.
40,000 gallons used per car
This may come as a surprise to many but water is heavily relied upon in the creation of automotive vehicles. On average it is estimated that around 40,000 gallons of water is used during the production of each car.
10.5 billion gallons saved
Since the beginning of the century Ford has reduced their water usage in their factories by a great deal. According to Ford themselves, they have managed to save 10.5 billion gallons of water since 2000 which equates to an overall saving of 49 per cent. By the year 2015 the company are aiming to reduce the water usage by 30 per cent when compared to the amount of usage in 2009.
Why water is needed for car production
What is the water used for? It is needed to lubricate the machines and is an essential resource. Ford have used a new method called dry machining which is a more environmentally friendly alternative, as it doesn’t require the need for water. This allows 280,000 gallons of water to be saved per year.
Ford alternatives
Ford also use biological membrane reactors and wastewater treatment systems. This particular feature is able to recover 65 per cent of waste water and allow it to be reused.
Saving on the planet’s most important natural resource is essential. Although it may not seem like it now, water could one day be worth more than Oil. With car manufacturers cutting down on it where necessary, it enhance their efficiency, environmental credentials and their very own reputation.
In what is quite an ambitious target, Ford will have plenty of work to do if they are to reduce their water usage by 30 per cent by 2015. They have already made great progress in doing so and seem to be implementing the right technology and practices to steadily reach that target.
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