Portuguese App for the Android Simplifies Electric Vehicle Charging

INESC Porto announced today that the application will be launched on Thursday at the Science and Technology Park in Maia (TecMaia).

The application was developed by NDrive Navigation Systems, INESC Porto (the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering of Porto), the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, INTELI (the Intelligence and Innovation Centre) and CEIIA (the Centre for Excellence and Innovation in the Automobile Industry).
“The software can compare prices and import pre-defined routes. The application aims to help electric vehicle drivers, particularly on long haul journeys when the electric car will have to be charged.”

The source notes that battery life for electric vehicles and the lack of a large-scale network of charging points are two challenges facing Electric Mobility. 

The new application for the Android Smartphone will make the lives of electric vehicle drivers much simpler by interacting with an online platform using NDrive GPS navigation software and the infrastructure of the charging points.

“While driving, the driver is given information on the charging stations that are within the electric vehicle battery’s life. They can also find out whether the charging point is currently in-use and they can import pre-defined routes”, highlights INESC Porto.
Carlos Pinho, the director of the INESC Porto project stated that the application will be available free of charge shortly after its launch and for a pilot phase lasting “around two or three months” so that it can be tested by users.

During the pilot phase it will also be possible to download the NDrive software free of charge with the Portuguese map. The commercial launch for this product is planned for 2012 both in Portugal and other international markets.

Carlos Pinho stated that the application “is just for NDrive”, but in the future he claims that it could branch out to incorporate other GPS navigation programmes.

As part of the presentation of Project MOBILES (Sustainable Electric Mobility) on Thursday, Mobility day, the application will be demonstrated in real-time with a test drive with the Alfa prototype electric vehicle developed by CEIIA.

Público Última Hora, 20th September 2011

30th September 2011