Delphi Introduces Vehicle Diagnostics Car-to-Cloud Connectivity Device [2013 CES]

11 years, 11 months ago - 18 January 2013, Car and Driver

Supplier Delphi unveiled a relatively unremarkable-looking little widget called Vehicle Diagnostics at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show. The device plugs into most post-1996 automobiles’ OBD-II port and enables car owners to connect their car to the cloud via a built-in Verizon Wireless data connection.

This affords users a vast swath of car-specific diagnostic information, plus a few neat features like vehicle tracking, remote locking and unlocking, and remote starting.

Taken individually, Vehicle Diagnostic’s features aren’t earth-shatteringly fresh or new—but by bundling them together into a retrofittable, data-enabled package is. Several OEMs offer smartphone apps or online vehicle-control services that allow owners to remotely start, lock and unlock, and monitor their cars’ diagnostic data—GM’s OnStar mobile and Hyundai’s BlueLink, for example. Delphi’s aftermarket solution expands this capability to non-GM or Hyundai vehicles, and the company says that any key-fob function (that came with your car) can be mimicked on your computer or smartphone via the cloud. The device can even be set up to pair with users’ phones via Bluetooth when they’re within 30 feet of the car, to save on data usage.

For those jealous spouses, concerned parents, or geo-data fanatics out there, Vehicle Diagnostics offers up live tracking, trip logging (from ignition on to ignition off is deemed a single trip), and the ability to define geo-fences (if your car travels outside of the specified area, you’ll receive an alert). Users also can set up alerts for when the check-engine or battery-voltage light comes on, high engine rpm (higher than 4000 rpm for five seconds), or high-speed operation, which is defined as 75 mph or above for longer than five seconds.

All of this info, plus the key-fob functions, can be accessed either by a smartphone app (iPhone and Android versions are available) or by visiting a dedicated Delphi website from any internet browser. Delphi points out that the tracking functions afford users more than just creepy big-brother capabilities—folks can set up automatic trip logging, a boon for those who have to fill out expense reports for driving their own cars.

Delphi plans to release the Vehicle Diagnostics device in the coming weeks (it will be available through Verizon) and pricing and plan information for the Verizon data connection will be announced closer to the on-sale date.