The new feature uses onboard GPS and predictive algorithms to learn the location of a vehicle and identify places that are visited on a frequent basis, such as home and work.

A self-driving car? Not yet, but Ford has developed a feature that learns your usual driving routes and adjusts powertrain controls based on location to deliver more electric-only driving.

EV+ is a standard feature on the Ford plug-in hybrids, C-MAX Energi and Fusion Energi, and the hybrid versions of Fusion and C-MAX. It uses onboard GPS equipment and predictive software algorithms to learn the location of a vehicle and identify places that are visited on a frequent basis, such as home and work. When the feature identifies frequent destinations, the way electric power is used changes. When within a radius of 1/8 mile of a frequent stop, the vehicle stays in electric-only mode, and the internal combustion engine stays off.

“We know from our research that hybrid drivers want to drive as often as they can in electric-only mode, especially near their home or frequently visited locations,” said Ford’s Kevin Layden. “We already have a GPS unit in every Ford with SYNC, so really it was just a matter of tapping into that the right way. This is one of the first examples of how we’re looking to make the car smarter, by leveraging onboard data to provide features and services that add value to the driving experience.”

Source: Ford