Watching the charge

A fusion of diagnostics and telematics may help boost electric vehicles.

Diagnostics have long been of interest mainly to those charged with keeping vehicles running, but the data gathered by electronic systems is rapidly becoming a shared resource. The data collected by sensors and electronic controls is increasingly being distributed via telematic systems, and it may become a critical component for the growth of electric powertrains.

Though diagnostics is a critical element in all vehicles, it is gaining even more importance in systems that will pave the way for acceptance of electric vehicles. A range of sensors and controllers are needed to keep batteries running throughout a vehicle's lifetime, and safety will become a bigger issue when the industry makes the inevitable shift to lithium-ion batteries. As plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles rely more on batteries, the nexus of diagnostics and telematics will help reduce range anxiety, providing information on recharging stations within the range provided by batteries.