Future Audi Hybrids May Suggest the Most EV Friendly Driving Route

Sam McEachern
by Sam McEachern

Audi has filed a patent application for technology that would actively determine the most efficient driving route for a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The patent is for a navigation system that would determine the best route for maximizing the range of a hybrid car’s battery. The system would work in unison with the drivetrain and adjust the route based on the situation at hand. For example, if the battery were depleted, the route may be different than if it were at a full charge. The system would also offer the driver the ideal route if they want to travel under electric power alone, or give them a route that would better allow the combustion engine to charge the battery.

SEE ALSO: GM Files Patent to Make Self-Driving Cars Self-Cleaning Cars Too

In theory, the efficiency-minded navigation system would allow drivers of plug-in hybrid vehicles to complete the majority of their trip under electric power alone more often. Audi says the majority of hybrid drivers prefer to travel under EV power only when possible, so this tech would be a welcome addition to plug-in hybrids of the future. Unlike some patents for future tech, this one seems easy enough to implement, so don’t be surprised if we see it on an Audi plug-in sooner rather than later.

[Source: Motor1]

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Sam McEachern
Sam McEachern

Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.

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