How Chevy Volt Heralds the Arrival of Truly "Connected" Cars

Chevrolet's MyLink display pairs up with smartphones through USB to allow hands-free calling and messaging, including Siri Eyes Free for compatible iPhones. The Volt's rear camera and onboard sensors offer driver assistive safety features such as Intellibeam headlamps, alerts for side-blind-zone, lane-change, and rear-cross-traffic, and forward collisions.

The "connected" Chevy Volt has integrated 4G LTE internet service. Up to seven devices, from smartphones, game devices and laptops, can be freely connected to the in-car internet. AT&T is the wireless carrier and coverage includes free roaming throughout the US and Canada. Both Apple iOS and Android can be extended to the MyLink dashboard system for compatibility with mobile apps. Apple's Carplay integrates iPhone apps into the car's dashboard system once the iPhone is plugged in via USB, enabling music playlists through iTunes, watching videos, email, messaging, and navigation through MyLink. Google's Projected Mode will similarly bring Android smartphones functionality to the dashboard system. Pandora and Sirius are also available.

With the Internet of Things (IoT) enabled, Chevy’s “connected car” is a hub for an ecosystem of connected services that offer passengers enhanced safety and security, a richer user experience, and new product offerings. GM's OnStar network provides services for safety and security to vehicles on the road. Through the Volt's 4G LTE mobile hotspots, the always-on IoT enables premium content providers, brick-and-mortar retailers, and vehicle manufacturers to extend trial offers for their services. Commerce is brought directly to the passenger inside the vehicle with coupons for businesses that lie ahead.

As our lives become increasingly digital, commerce enacted from our connected cars will reduce trips to brick-and-mortar stores and businesses. Thanks to satellite internet and built in Wifi hotspots, passengers in future connected cars will be able to switch on home heating or cooling as they near home. Over-the-air firmware updates can be pushed to cars to fix software glitches as has been done with Tesla firmware updates. Automatic 24/7 crash notification services can notify emergency services in case of an accident. Health monitoring apps on our smartphones might someday warn emergency services of a medical crisis such as a heart attack, as our connected cars reroute to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Connected cars will one day self-organize into "flocks" headed for a common destination, drafting one another for energy savings. Fuel and energy will be saved by navigation services that are aware of traffic conditions and reroute to avoid congestion, and to avoid time wasted at stop lights. Smart parking will become possible, sending cars to available spaces to eliminate aimless circling. The IoT will lead to smart buildings aware of their occupants' comfort, and smart cities will arise that optimize transportation flows, entertainment, commerce, access to goods and services as well as resources for residents.

The 2016 Volt offers driver assistive features for collision avoidance that anticipate hazards due to driver distraction. The ecosystem of goods and services offered by an Internet of Vehicles, (connected cars and smartphones), together with new driver assistive safety features, are part of the next wave of technology from Chevrolet and other car companies that will enhance mobility for humans.

The Chevy Volt with its 4G LTE Internet is part of the new wave of truly "connected" cars that provide a full suite of enhanced goods, services, safety and convenience to passengers on the road. Moreover, with its new driver assistive safety features, Chevy Volt is part of the migration to the futuristic Internet of Vehicles and other smart connected environments to come.