Drivelog, the online car manager of the Bosch subsidiary Mobility Media GmbH, has expanded its range of services with “Drivelog Connect.” This new service informs car drivers about the condition of their vehicle – at any time.
A special connector, the so-called Drivelog Connector is plugged into the vehicle’s OBD2 diagnostic interface. Via Bluetooth, this connector can then transmit any important information regarding the vehicle’s condition to the free-of-charge Drivelog Connect app installed on the user’s smartphone. By means of this app, incomprehensible error codes and the causes of warning lamps lit up on the dashboard are read out and explained in a comprehensible manner. If the user wishes so, he can even book a workshop appointment directly through the app. In addition, the system reminds the user of upcoming service deadlines.
In case of breakdown, quick assistance is provided, too, according to Bosch. If the driver wishes so, the breakdown assistance of the Drivelog Connect app can even submit the current vehicle location to the breakdown service. For a quick diagnosis, the error codes are also transmitted at the same time.
In addition, the system traces all driven routes thus allowing both fuel consumption and driving behavior to be analyzed. Drivelog Connect can thus be used as a digital driver’s logbook – for instance, to differentiate between private and professional trips in case of company cars. The analysis of the driving behavior shows saving potentials on a live screen. Over the course of a year, a lot of fuel and money can thus be saved by slightly changing the driving behavior, Bosch says. Another very practical feature of the Drivelog Connect app is its car finder. It reliably shows the location of a parked car providing the user with information on how to approach it using the shortest way.
Thanks to its powerful encryption techniques and high industrial data security standards, the Bosch security concept protects all Drivelog Connect components from hacker attacks and data theft, the company adds.
In order to use Drivelog Connect, the special Drivelog Connector is required. In comparison with other dongles, it is particularly small and can thus be plugged into the OBD2 interface in a very space-saving manner, according to Bosch. Furthermore, the Drivelog Connector allows reading out manufacturer-specific data such as service intervals and oil or fuel levels, which cannot be analyzed by conventional OBD2 dongles.
As of now, vehicle owners can order the Drivelog Connector for EUR 69.90 directly from Bosch via Drivelog shop.
The Drivelog Connect app itself is available free at the PlayStore for Android devices and at the Apple Store for iPhones. Once the app is installed and the connector plugged in, the user just has to connect both of them via Bluetooth.
