Nissan Dials IPhone for Car Remote Control

Nissan has developed a prototype iPhone application that would allow electric car owners to dial into their vehicles and check battery levels.
"Using it, owners will be able to monitor charging of their cars while away from the vehicles. The system could come in handy, for example, when cars are parked at public charging stations and owners want to fully charge the batteries before driving away. In addition to the basic monitoring of battery level, more detailed information can be sent to the phone that includes the time required for a full charge and the approximate cost."

In addition to the basic monitoring of battery level, more detailed information can be sent to the phone that includes the time required for a full charge and the approximate cost.

The information also includes the current temperature inside the car and that ties into a second function of the application: remote control of the car's air conditioning system.

That might sound like a random and perhaps strange function but it's all in the name of energy efficiency.