Car that needs special instructions to drive from A to B is not very good car for mainstream market.
Very true. The car will need to have a greater ability to work the problem if the driver is unaware, unable or unwilling to do so.
I hope that the practical offshoot of all this autonomous/driverless vehicle research is a smartnav system which doesn't present the driver with a mathematical problem WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING.
It seems more sensible to get the driver to select "Where next?" on the touchscreen map while stationary at a charging station and going through the process of connecting up to a charger.
So once Tesla Smartnav knows the destination it would need to:
a) Know the power/availability of charging stops along several routes
b) Know the speed limits on the roads to these locations.
c) Know the current elevation and the elevation of the charging stops.
d) Know local weather data.
e) Know local traffic flow data
f) Know the driver's driving style.
and could display the two quickest routes with little boxes (Charge here - 40 mins) as well as an approximate total driving time for each. The driver scans these and selects a preferred one. (There is also an "Alternate Routes?" option to cycle through for a wider choice.)
The key point is that route selection is the ONLY way to set charging levels and to initiate a recharge - it forces the driver to give the car key information. (At home the car would present the simple question "Normal Commute to Work Tomorrow?" when plugged in at night. If "No" the driver goes through the same route selection process, maybe choosing a different route to work for an errand or an entirely different route. The Smartnav could also build up a list of regular routes for some sort of "Fast Select" option)
(Then again, I predict a Gen 3 Forum Thread: "Demand Tesla reinstates the old charge setting method"
)
Back on the road, the system would pop up reminders for stops and be able to suggest speed reductions etc if conditions change, or a particular stop is missed or if the driver decides/needs to take a detour. (The system still has the alternate routes and/or can recalculate based on new data updates on traffic flow etc)
ETA: On reflection, insisting you must select a destination before you can charge is overkill for daily routine driving. I'm going to backtrack on that one for domestic use - from home you can set a certain pack charge target level (as now) or the route option. The Route Selection method would still be the only option/enforced every time you connect to a Supercharger - or any non-home charger above a certain power (since Smartnav should know power available and location and can therefore assume a trip is likely). Having to set a route might also act as a very minor and gentle encouragement to local residents to find alternative charging rather than using a Supercharger. But they can still use them if they need to.
Having both options available also works if you have to connect to low power overnight at a distant location. Technically you could still be travelling and not at your final destination. (if you've done the trip before, Smartnav might know about it - if you selected the "Save Trip?" option, but it can't assume that you are heading there until you select it as the last stage of your journey)
