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Oct 05

Chevy Volt EcoHub app tells drivers how little they pay to charge, goads them into staying green (video)

GM’s OnStar team would really like us to stay on the electric side of the Chevy Volt’s powertrain as much as possible. That’s the selling point, after all. Rather than simply preach green driving and hope for the best, the division is testing a new EcoHub app that reminds Volt drivers just how miserly their plug-in hybrids can be. Qualifying owners who opt in or subscribe to OnStar have the Volt’s energy usage costs compared to their home’s total electricity bill, showing how much cheaper it can be to avoid the gas pump. There’s more if money isn’t enough of a motivator — the app also builds in a counter that estimates how much gas Volt drivers are saving nationwide. The eco-friendly ego boost is currently limited to Android users participating in Pecan Street’s smart grid project in Austin, but long-term plans have the app reaching iOS and all Volt fans eager to justify their ride.

Continue reading Chevy Volt EcoHub app tells drivers how little they pay to charge, goads them into staying green (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Mobile

Chevy Volt EcoHub app tells drivers how little they pay to charge, goads them into staying green (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 23:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 21

OnStar upgrades design for 2013 GM models

Posted in: Today's Chili

General Motors has used OnStar technology in some of its vehicles for many years now. OnStar is an interesting technology that puts a blue button somewhere inside the vehicle, typically on the rearview mirror, allowing the driver to make phone calls or get assistance. The coolest part about OnStar has always been the ability of the service to activate automatically in the event of an accident.

Since OnStar launched, the blue button has been the same. For 2013, OnStar says it is “Buttoning Up” with a new look in 2013 models. One of the coolest new looks for OnStar in 2013 model GM vehicles is the frameless mirror you see in the photo above. That particular mirror will be used in the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro.

The black button that was previously called the “Hands-Free Calling button” had a white phone with a circle around it. OnStar has changed that button to the “Voice Command button” with a general speech icon on it that looks like a person sitting down and talking. The Emergency Button was previously a white cross with a red circle around it. That button has been replaced with a red circle sporting a white border and white letters spelling out SOS, the recognized international symbol for distress.

The iconic blue OnStar button has also changed with a switch to the company’s new logo introduced in late 2010. The frameless mirror you see in the photo above that will be featured in some 2013 Camaro models will have touchscreen access. The OnStar buttons on the mirror has electrochromic capabilities and lights up when touched and dims shortly after. The mirror is also auto dimming and will be standard on the Camaro 2SS, 2LT, ZL1 coupe and convertible models.

OnStar upgrades design for 2013 GM models is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Jul 17

OnStar RelayRides brings auto sharing nationwide

Posted in: Today's Chili

General Motors customers who have OnStar-enabled vehicles have been revealed this week to be getting a car rental service if they do so choose – their own cars being the subject of this new program. Each OnStar subscriber will soon have the ability to rent out their car when they’re not using it in order to off-set the cost of owning a vehicle in the big city. This program is called RelayRides, and works with drivers’ iPhone app as well as through the RelayRides marketplace through simple key exchanges.

This announcement is more of an update and an upgrade, as the RelayRides program originally launched back in 2010 in Boston via GM and OnStar, this week this service being launched nationwide. Studies quoted by GM for this program show that each car shared can result in up to 13 fewer cars on the road in all – this of course leading to a lot less pollution and clogging of roadways in the end – or so we hear from OnStar.

Users opting in to this program are provided with a $1 million dollar insurance policy if they own the car during the rental, with a $300,000 USD policy set up for renters – this insurance cash comes from the RelayRides program itself. Shelby Clark, RelayRides founder and Chief Community Officer, spoke on the program this past week:

“Using the OnStar API to access GM vehicles empowers RelayRides to make car sharing even safer and more convenient. The sheer number of vehicles eligible for the program allows us to greatly expand across the U.S. and introduce the economic, environmental and community benefits of car sharing to regions that car sharing services have previously been unable to serve.” – Clark

You can find out more about the program at the RelayRides official homepage, and head below to find our more about OnStar in our own timeline as well!

OnStar RelayRides brings auto sharing nationwide is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Jul 17

GM lets you rent out your vehicle via OnStar service

Posted in: Today's Chili

General Motors has a new way for drivers of its vehicles to earn some money on the side – by renting out their under utilized rides thanks to the OnStar service which basically enables potential renters to unlock the doors with nothing other than their smartphones. General Motors mentioned that they are working in tandem with RelayRides, an online car-sharing marketplace which was first introduced in Boston sometime in June a couple of years ago. GM’s venture-capital arm threw in some money into the company as an investment at the end of last year as a show of faith in the business model.

Just to recap, OnStar is an in-vehicle service that is most famous for hokoing up drivers to live operators who are then able to offer directions or even summon emergency help in the event of an accident. Developers of RelayRides were given access to several OnStar services, where among them include features which are able to locate the vehicle and unlock the doors remotely. Those who are renting will be able to do so using their smartphone, or simply replying to text messages. Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac cars and trucks owners are said to be able to pocket up to “hundreds of dollars per month” through RelayRides – not half bad, no?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: OnStar FMV mirror is strutted, OnStar Supports Google Maps To Enhance Turn-by-Turn Navigation,

Jul 17

OnStar seals partnership with RelayRides, makes renting out your car even easier (hands-on video)

Posted in: Today's Chili

Remember that partnership between OnStar and RelayRides we wrote about last March? Well it’s finally coming to fruition today, with the peer-to-peer car sharing service launching support for remote door unlocking via OnStar’s proprietary API. As a result, RelayRides members with OnStar-enabled vehicles no longer have to exchange keys in person if they so choose. Another benefit is that participants can list their automobile on RelayRides directly from their OnStar account — renters then benefit from the added safety and security that comes with OnStar.

We had the chance to test an early version of the functionality on a Chevy Volt at SXSW a few months ago and it worked pretty much as advertised. There was a bit of a delay between the time we sent the unlock command from RelayRides’ website on the demo iPad and the moment the doors actually unlocked on the car, but we’re told this has been significantly improved since our hands-on. Of course, RelayRides also supports remote unlocking via text message. Take a look at the galleries below then hit the break for our hands-on video, RelayRides’ video and OnStar’s PR.

Gallery: RelayRides with OnStar hands-on