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HONDA COMMITS TO ROLL OUT OF NEXT-GENERATION CONNECTIVITY ACROSS ITS EUROPEAN RANGE
Automaker also introduces ‘e:PROGRESS’ – a first commercial energy management service with flexible tariff for EV owners
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Footage will be available to download via the following link on 3 March 2020, from 08:00 GMT: https://www.globalmediacentre.com/news/honda-commits-roll-out-next-generation-connectivity-across-its-european-range
3 March 2020: Honda announced today that all forthcoming models will feature advanced connectivity technologies. The first example of this commitment is the availability of the My Honda+ application and Honda Personal Assistant on Honda e and all-new Jazz and Jazz Crosstar.
The My Honda+ smartphone app keeps owners connected to their car remotely. The smartphone-based service has been redesigned with a simple, intuitive user experience that provides secure access to a range of in-car functions, including comfort, convenience and security features.
The app offers control of vehicle security, including Remote Vehicle Lock and Unlock of the car. For Honda e owners, an additional Digital Key function allows vehicle access to be securely shared with up to five others. Digital Key works via Bluetooth and enables owners to remotely close windows and open the charge lid as well as locking and unlocking the vehicle.
In addition to this, infotainment and connectivity features in Honda e and Jazz can be activated using voice commands through Honda Personal Assistant. First seen in the Honda e and now available on the all-new Jazz, the intuitive Honda Personal Assistant is a smart artificial intelligence (AI) agent which harnesses natural, smart instruction-based conversations and contextual understanding to access a range of online services.
Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President, Honda Motor Europe, commented, “Today’s customer expects their vehicle to connect seamlessly with their wider life. Honda’s development of next-generation connectivity can clearly be seen with the launch of features such as Honda Personal Assistant and My Honda+. We are committed to widening the availability of these features to meet the expectation of our customer.”
Speaking at a Press Conference in Geneva, Honda also revealed further detail of its first commercial Energy Management service – under the new brand ‘e:PROGRESS’ - which will come to market during 2020.
e:PROGRESS will offer a smart charger, smart tariff, and a smart charge control system to deliver optimal charging for users. The smart tariff will be the first flexible energy contract specifically tailored to Electric Vehicle (EV) owners available in Europe, optimising the use of electricity from renewable sources including solar power, wind farms and hydropower. The service also allows charging at the most cost-effective time, relative to grid demand.
The new service will be offered in collaboration with smart charging and aggregation specialist Moixa, and leading European energy supplier, Vattenfall. Through Moixa’s GridShare ‘smart charge’ system, customers simply specify their preferred parameters for minimum state of charge through a smartphone app, leaving the system to manage charging. Electricity supply is provided by Vattenfall, with a flexible ‘time of use’ tariff offering lower cost energy at certain time of the day than a fixed tariff.
The launch of e:PROGRESS follows Honda’s first vehicle-to-grid project going live in January, with the installation of bi-directional chargers in Islington, London. This project is a first step in helping the local council electrify its entire fleet in line with its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.
-ENDS-
Editor’s notes:
About e:PROGRESS
· Honda to introduce first commercial Energy Management service with Europe-first flexible energy tariff specifically tailored to EV owners
· Service to be offered under the new brand ‘e:PROGRESS’
· e:PROGRESS allows EV owners to charge their car making optimum use of
· renewables and at the most cost-effective time
· Honda’s Power Charger will come to market in line with first customer deliveries of the Honda e this summer, with the full e:PROGRESS service live within 2020. The new service will be available in the UK initially, with Germany and other European countries to follow.
About Advanced Connectivity
· All future European Honda models to have intuitive and seamless advanced connectivity available
· My Honda+ connected car application provides a range of comfort, convenience and security features
· Honda Personal Assistant system includes unique contextual understanding
· WiFi hotspot capability also available for internet connectivity on the move
· My Honda+, Honda Personal Assistant and WiFi hotspot features available on Honda e and all-new Jazz and Jazz Crosstar.
3 March 2020
