The search for Elvis hasn't turned up much, but Volvo is hoping for better results with their ELVIIS (Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure) project.
Designed to make electric vehicles more convenient, the ELVIIS project is being spearheaded by a consortium of companies including Volvo, Ericsson, Göteborg Energi and the Viktoria Institute. The aim of the experiment is to make electric vehicles chargeable at any outlet as the owner would automatically get billed for their energy usage.
As it stands, the ELVIIS technology will direct drivers to an outlet via GPS. The owner can then pre-set charging times via the car's infotainment system or a mobile device. The car then communicates with utility companies to develop a charging scheme which minimizes grid usage for lower electrical rates. When the vehicle is charged, the cost of the energy usage is added to the owner's personal utility bill.
Five C30 Electrics are being used as part of the experiment and all have been equipped with a new 7-inch touchscreen display. They will be evaluated over the course of the year, but there's no word when or if ELVIIS technology will be introduced in production vehicles.
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