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What is OBD—and what does it offer connected car apps?

Connor Mason
  • Connor Mason
  • April 10, 2015
What is OBD—and what does it offer connected car apps?

Even before smartphones existed, automakers began integrating a standard for diagnostic information and maintenance that spans models and manufacturers. Called On-Board Diagnostics, or OBD, this port exists on nearly every vehicle manufactured since the mid–1990s and is intended to provide mechanics or dealership technicians with critical data about the vehicle’s overall health.

OBD provides access to critical engine codes, passive status of fuel levels, and more. Recently, technology companies have begun repurposing OBD to provide that same data to the user. Products like Automatic include wireless Bluetooth OBD adapters that communicate with dedicated smartphone apps to report crucial engine information and make suggestions about driving trends. But these systems are repurposing technology intended for service professionals, and addressing user needs in circuitous ways.

“Companies are beginning to investigate OBD to track maintenance or vehicle health, which is interesting. But it’s a stopgap between what’s possible now and what will be possible in the future.” —Billy Collins, Strategist

Automakers are investigating different ways to bridge the divide between cars and digital, with strategies that run the gamut from obvious to ambitious. “There are a ton of directions the connected car could go,” said Punchkick iOS developer John Norton, “from connecting old cars with OBD to newer cars that come with built-in connected features. There are manufacturers essentially building a SIM card into a car so it functions as a wireless hotspot, allowing it to connect to the OEM’s own systems and web services. But this technology seems to assume that there wouldn’t be a connected phone already talking to web services right next to the driver.”

The built-in versus brought-in dichotomy defines how drivers will engage with connected features in their cars going forward, and is often dictated by manufacturer adoption. Because providing real-time information about car health is immensely useful and powerful for drivers, closer integration with car manufacturers will obviate the need for OBD connections in coming years. As cars evolve to become more aware of the mobile devices inside them, and as smartphones evolve to better retrieve data from cars, these connections will become even better.

“The locus of control exists with OEMs. The manufacturers who are most successful engaging users inside and outside of the car will be those who empower the user to connect with and control their vehicle on mobile. And that will eventually happen without the need for additional hardware.” —Billy Collins, Strategist

Apps that today rely on OBD connectivity will over time grow to take advantage of these new connection systems. Eventually, the largest car manufacturers will make APIs available that provide information about the car’s health and diagnostic data over time, in addition to present states related to velocity and fuel. The automotive mobile experience of the future will remain constantly informed of a car’s every move, and leveraging OBD is one step in the direction of full, unfettered integration.

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