Hybrid Nav screens getting out of control?
Yes they are awesome, but they have costsI love the navigation and control systems that are found in many hybrid cars. Entertainment options, navigation, and oodles of important car data make these screens the highlight of many hybrids. Unfortunately, they also add significant costs to hybrid vehicles.
Even worse, many of these screens that have become distractions. An unconfirmed source told me that some insurance companies are starting to notice a nasty little trend - hybrid drivers are getting in an unusual number of accidents where they rear-end vehicles, apparently distracted by their console screens.
Nonetheless, these console screens appear to be the future. Is this a bad trend? Should it be only an option?
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
6:44 AM
3 Comments:
If they are replacing typical controls that you would have to look down to push, switch or move anyway that fine, but most should remain hands free or limited. I'd just like to see a choice to not get any of that, and make the car more affordable. Doesn't these things use MORE electricity and draing the battery more? Manual controls for things would be nice to cut cost and extend battery life. Just a though. Though, if you can show people that this hybrid is no P.O.S. econobox, you might get the richies to buy them and make them more affordable for us working class slobs.
Be-all center console screens are hazardous, but they unfortunately move cars off the showroom floor. After using one for over two years in a Prius, I prefer the real-estate trade-off of manual controls. Switching screens to change climate, music, etc, is a hassle and draws too long of a focus away from the road. They change a "glance-and-twist" to a bigger project of switching screens and having to visually press a virtual button rather than the feel of a knob and your eyes never leaving the road.
Lets talk steering wheel controls! THAT is a simple feature I really like. Much safer, too.
For as much as I dis the Volt, the shots of the production interior have a screen you see through the steering wheel in the traditional gauges position. A very nice feature. It may add cost though, as they seem to still have the center screen as well.
"I'd just like to see a choice to not get any of that, and make the car more affordable."
I'd like that feature as well.
And, yes, these screens to suck energy, but most give you the option to turn them off, although the Volt's seems integral, or required, for driving.
KP - Two 7 inch screens on the Volt will be standard, at least that's how it is planned right now.
I also like the screen behind the steering wheel, although I'd also prefer more controls on the steering wheel, or voice-controlled.
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