Hyundai Motor Group has developed new technology that will allow drivers of electric cars to customize the vehicle’s performance using a smartphone application.

The industry-first innovation can adjust seven performance features, including the maximum torque output of the motor, ignition, acceleration and deceleration abilities, regenerative braking capacity, maximum speed limit, responsiveness, and energy use on climate control.

As electric vehicles continue to expand their market share, especially in rental or car-sharing industries, the new technology will allow drivers to use their own custom settings in whichever electric vehicle they drive, simply by downloading their profile from the server.

As well as customizing for individual drivers, the application can also optimize the settings for specific journeys. For example, on longer drives the app could analyze the remaining distance and electric energy requirement, and then adjust the settings for optimum range, while for short trips around town it can be more responsive in traffic. It can also accommodate sportier driving.

Beyond the driver’s seat, users can share their customization settings online as well as try out other users’ preferences. Customers can also apply recommended settings by Hyundai based on the condition of roads, from country roads to the city center or mountain ranges.

Hyundai will utilize blockchain technology to prevent security issues while users upload and share their custom settings on the server. In the process of uploading and sharing custom settings, the system encrypts major performance parameters in a blockchain network by creating new data blocks and stores them in the distributed data storage system to block unauthorized manipulation.

Hyundai Motor Group’s ‘smartphone vehicle pairing-based performance adjustment technology’ is possible due to electric vehicles’ distinctive properties which set them apart from internal combustion engine vehicles.

Zero-emission vehicles offer unique freedom to modify the drive experience because altering performance doesn’t change the carbon footprint. As such, electric vehicles provide drivers more leeway in applying such technology.

“As Hyundai Motor Group is planning to deploy 44 eco-friendly models by year 2025, including 23 electric vehicles, we see the potential of technologies and services inherent in non-combustion vehicles,” said research fellow JeongSoo Eo from Hyundai Motor Group. “By developing paradigm-shifting mobility technology like this one, we will continue to strive to improve user experience for electric vehicles customized to individual preferences.” – TradeArabia News Service