An Automatic that’s not a transmission
These days, the innovation around cars is exploding. That’s a good thing given that addressing car emissions is a key sustainability challenge.
While car makers from Tesla to Mercedes are stepping up, so too are a host of innovators who make car accessories that can truly revolutionize the driving experience.
One such accessory is called Automatic. It’s a small device that plugs into the diagnostic port of your vehicle, and wirelessly connects the car’s computer system to your smartphone. At that point, it can relay data about all of your car’s subsystems — from the gas tank to the engine – to you.
Unearthing an information treasure
Automatic makes information that was previously locked away both accessible and easy to understand. That information lets you:
- Save hundreds a year on gas. The site suggests you could save up to a third of your annual gasoline bill by slightly adjusting your driving habits. The device gives you audible cues when, for example, you accelerate too fast when a red light turns green.
- Receive an early warning. Automatic also monitors your car’s health. It can diagnose what your “Check Engine” light really means, and tell you if it needs immediate attention or is perhaps a false alarm.
- Remember where you parked. Have you ever walked out of work or the grocery store and stopped dead in the parking lot wondering where your car is? Automatic can tell you where it’s parked.
- Contact others in an emergency. If you have a serious accident, Automatic alerts 911 with your location and can be programmed to alert other people as well.
With Automatic, your car is truly connected to you and the world. Two other noteworthy benefits include:
- Coaching your teen driver with License+. The good folks at Automatic Labs recently introduced License+. If you are a parent with a new teen driver, it can be a nerve-wracking time. License+ can coach your teen when you’re not there, and keep you in the loop as to how your teen is driving.
- Expensing your mileage easily. Automatic keeps your mileage log for you. You can export it or integrate it with other apps you use.
Any device that improves gas mileage also reduces emissions – a win-win for you and the environment. Automatic works with cars as old as 1996, and you can check their website to confirm its compatibility with your exact year, make and model.
According to McKinsey, “the car of the future is connected.” With Automatic, the cars of today can have “new car features without the new car price tag.” Sounds like a good deal.
All imagery courtesy of Automatic Labs, Inc.