Now a Smartphone App Will Manage Your Car Remotely

Hyundai launched Monday its first plug–in hybrid vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug–in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is expected to travel up to 22 miles on electric power and can recharge in as little as two and a half hours with a Level 2 charger.

Owners can manage and monitor the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle remotely via an exclusive Blue Link smartphone app.

With the app, owners can access real-time data from their Sonata PHEV and perform specific commands like starting the engine and locking doors. Plus, users can search for points of interest using Google with voice or text and have the directions when they start their Sonata PHEV.

[ Driver to Smartwatch: Start My Car, Lock My Car, Find My Car ]

A useful feature of the app is managing the car’s charging schedule. The owners are given vehicle charging options that they can select while in the car, but users can also manage them remotely via smartphone. Immediate charge is the simplest option, as charging begins as soon as the Sonata PHEV is plugged in.

Individuals that have different electric rates at various times may want to schedule the charge. Users can do that with the new app based on time and date. For example, charging could be set to start at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays on a weekly basis.

Sonata Plug–in Hybrid will be built at the Asan, South Korea plant and will go on sale in select markets later this year.