General Motors is letting owners of the Chevrolet Volt control the electric car and monitor its battery charge level using a mobile application.

GM unveiled the auto industry's first smartphone application that remotely provides Chevrolet Volt owners with 24/7 connection and control of vehicle functions and OnStar features. OnStar's mobile application lets drivers with a Motorola Droid, Apple iPhone or BlackBerry Storm smartphone communicate with their Volt.

?The strategy of the launch is that we?re looking for a way to bring out total connectivity of what we think is a revolutionary vehicle, the Chevy Volt, which has a special place in the electric vehicle category due to its extended-range capability,? said Maria Rohrer, director of marketing for Chevrolet Volt at General Motors, Detroit.

?We put the challenge to OnStar team?how can we extend even greater connectivity?? she said. ?For people looking at the electric vehicle category, what can we do to alleviate one of the major consumer concerns?charge anxiety?that your vehicle will run out of juice before you get to where you want to go?

?OnStar came up with mobile app to get a heightened sense of connectivity and address range anxiety.?

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions.

When the Volt's lithium-ion battery is depleted of energy, an engine/generator operates to extend the total driving range to about 300 miles before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery.

OnStar LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, is a provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. OnStar provides services to nearly 6 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.

The OnStar mobile application will be available for Volt owners at launch. Production for the Volt is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Pricing has not been announced.

Putting a charge in mobile
The Chevrolet Volt OnStar smartphone application is designed to enhance the overall Volt ownership experience with interaction and control GM claims has never been offered before on any electric vehicle.

The application uses a real-time data connection to perform tasks from setting the charge time to unlocking the doors.

It displays charge status?whether the car is plugged in or not?and voltage?120V or 240V.

The application provides flexibility to "Charge Now" or schedule charge timing. It displays percentage of battery charge level, electric and total ranges.

The application lets the Volt owner manually set grid-friendly charge mode for off-peak  times when electricity rates are lowest and sends text or email notifications for charge reminders, interruption and full charge.

The application displays miles per gallon, electric-only (EV) miles and odometer readings?miles driven during the last trip and over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Volt owners can also remotely start the vehicle to pre-condition the interior temperature using the application.

?The app is a perfect fit for the Volt?s target demographic?a very tech-savvy early-adopter, someone who revels in telling their friends how to use technology, an educator who has energy and the income to spend on high technology,? Ms. Rohrer said.

?If you look at the smartphone demographic, we very much see a parallel in the electric car demographic,? she said.

Going green
OnStar's real-time data connection also helps drivers maximize the environmental benefits of owning a Volt, even when not in the vehicle, according to GM.

The application's Charge Status feature simplifies setting the charge time.

Rather than using battery power, the application allows owners to start the Volt remotely to pre-condition the interior temperature using power from the grid. This preserves the battery charge for driving without gasoline.

When a charge command is activated, the Volt owner will receive a confirmation message on the application alerting the owner that a command has been successfully sent to the vehicle.

If in view of the Volt, a green LED charge light on the dash will indicate the charge state.

Traditional OnStar features such as door lock, unlock and remote horn and lights, which have typically been accessible only through a call into the OnStar call center, will now be available via the application.

OnStar on mobile
The OnStar mobile application was developed by engineers in the OnStar EV Lab.

In addition to this work, the team is leveraging OnStar's connectivity to the vehicle to gather real-time data about development models of the Volt as they are tested.

OnStar engineers then share this real-time data with the Volt engineering team to speed the development process and help ensure quality at the start of production.

The Volt's OnStar mobile application will be available on a mobile browser for Internet-capable phones not compatible with the application.

Volt drivers can also view and manage vehicle systems and commands from the vehicle, the Internet or through a monthly OnStar vehicle diagnostics email.

Volt owners can opt-in to receive a monthly OnStar email report with diagnostics on the characteristics of an electric vehicle with extended range, as well as the maintenance information current OnStar subscribers receive.

OnStar will also provide the connection for the Volt owner Web site, which will allow many of the same capabilities as the mobile application along with more in-depth information on the vehicle's history.

The OnStar subscription for the Chevrolet Volt will also include the safety and security services currently available to OnStar's subscribers, including automatic crash response, turn-by-turn navigation, hands-free calling and stolen vehicle assistance.

?The strategy is to create a stronger connectivity and to answer some of these questions of consumers interested in the Volt, and to address range anxiety,? Ms. Rohrer said. ?The app gives you that much more control.?