Nissan is working on an iPhone App that will allow users to check their car’s battery levels remotely.

The technology made its debut at the company’s research facility in Yokosuka, Japan. What’s useful about this App is that it will allow users to check their car’s battery level when it’s recharging. Other information will be made available such as how long a charge will take and how much it will cost. The system,which is still in its prototype phase will also enable smarter use of electricity such as starting the AC while connected to a charging station.

A driver returning to their car on a hot or cold day will typically blast the air conditioning or heater as soon as they start the engine and keep it going until a comfortable temperature is reached. That doesn’t pose too much of a problem on a gasoline-powered car but on an electric car it contributes to battery drain, reducing the car’s range.

However if the car is connected to a charger then it makes more sense to start-up the air conditioner or heater while still connected, making use of the electricity from the charging station, for those few initial minutes of high power use.

Via: Macworld