Ford Motor Company’s Research and Innovation Team have worked recently on combining cloud computing with hybrid vehicle technology. The result of this project is the Ford Evos Concept, a plug-in hybrid concept on display at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. This unique vehicle goes beyond the usual features of a hybrid vehicle with connectivity features that would alter the driving experience. Design leader Paul Mascarenas and his colleagues focused on personal cloud computing that would save details of a driver’s commute for future access. Collected information allows the Ford Evos Concept to customize each commute based on personal behavior and external factors.
The Ford Evos Concept uses a plug-in hybrid drive system with lithium-ion battery already tested in the Ford C-MAX Energi. This technology allows the four-door, four-seat concept to travel up to 500 miles per trip by combining engine and motor power. Ford has designed the Evos Concept to travel on all-electric power at low speeds before the gas engine is initiated. The Evos Concept also features a diminutive frame with a frame length of 177 inches and a wheel base of 108 inches. These details will no doubt get some attention but the Evos Concept will be best remembered for Ford’s cloud computing research.
The Research and Innovation Team were concerned with personalization, driving enhancement, driver well-being and optimization when developing the Evos Concept. Drivers would be connected wirelessly to Ford’s cloud network throughout the world. This cloud stores information about a driver’s behavior on the road including average speed, fuel consumption and driving distance. Additional information stored in the cloud includes health metrics for the driver, traffic data on roadways frequently used by the driver and weather patterns in the region. The Evos Concept pulls appropriate information from the cloud to improve the driver’s commuting experience.
Ford’s cloud-based hybrid drive system would eliminate problems common to drivers around the world. The Evos Concept could steer drivers clear of congested roadways by evaluating alternate routes in real time. This innovative vehicle responds to ice storms, blizzards and thunderstorms by recommending safe acceleration patterns and calculating braking distances. Representatives from Ford also note that the Evos Concept would respond quickly to low-emissions zones established in European countries. The creation of a green vehicle with cloud-computing capabilities could put Ford ahead of the competition in the 21st century.
