Microsoft and Toyota announced today a joint venture to create a system for energy management of plug-in cars for now — and perhaps to oversee energy use in the home, as well, in the future.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer held a joint webcast to announce creation of Toyota Media Service, a Toyota subsidiary that will provide the data service to drivers. The two companies will invest about $12 million in the venture.
The first application of the system — which will be based on the Windows Azure cloud computing platform — will be to manage energy use for the plug-in version of the Prius due in the first half next year. That Prius will be able to go about 13 miles on electric power only with a full charge from the power grid.
The system eventually will manage every electric thing in your life, including making your coffee in the morning:
Just kidding about the coffee, but not about everything else: Toyoda said the system could link owners with their cars, their home appliances, heating and AC and control and their utility company’s “smart grid” to minimize energy use, to schedule use for times when rates are lowest, to have your car ready when you are with its temperature preset and your most efficient route already dialed up in the navigation system. The link could dial down the energy use of your home while you’re away and ramp up the heating or air conditioning as you approach so the house is just right.
“Our cars will play a big role in the global expansion of what we call ‘smart centers’ … on-board systems capable of better managing overall energy consumption of cars… driving trips…and homes,” said Toyoda. ” For example, this new system will include advanced car telematics like virtual operators with voice recognition … management of vehicle charging to reduce stress on energy supply…and remote control of appliances, heating and lighting at home.”
For Toyota, which is trying to build up the infotainment and energy management tools for its electrified vehicles, the access to “Microsoft’s vast information infrastructure” will, said Toyoda, “boost the value of automobiles by making them ‘information terminals’ …moving beyond today’s GPS navigation and wireless safety communications, while at the same time enhancing driver and traffic safety.”
Microsoft gets a high-profile user for Windows Azure, its software in the “cloud” — i.e. that delivers services via the Internet rather than being loaded on a particular computer.
“Starting in 2012, customers who purchase one of Toyota’s electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles will be able to connect via the cloud to control and monitor their car from anywhere,” said Ballmer. “For example, customers will be able to turn on the heat or AC in their car while their vehicle is plugged into the grid or dynamically monitor miles until the next charging station right from their GPS system.”
Ballmer said the cloud-based system will be particularly important for the car company in emerging markets, “Toyota will be able to deliver these new applications and services in the 170 countries where Toyota cars are sold. Historically, this type of service was limited to only major markets where the automotive maker could build and maintain a data center.” Toyota will also have the benefit of paying for only the computing power it uses while being able to quickly scale to support spikes in demand or entry into new markets.”
