MyVoltControl 4+

Functions to enhance your Volt

Craftin De Apps LLC

    • 4.3 • 11 Ratings
    • Free
    • Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description

MyVoltControl is designed specifically for the Chevrolet Volt (and related models), and the Chevrolet Bolt. ("Related models" include the Cadillac ELR, Cadillac CT6, Opel Ampera, Holden Volt, Opel Ampera-e.)

MyVoltControl requires the use of an OBD adapter that complies with the ELM327 specification (most do). You can use either:
- an OBDLink MX+ OBD adapter (preferred)
- an OBDLink MX-WiFi OBD adapter
- a Bluetooth-Low-Energy (aka Bluetooth 4) OBD adapter will work in most cases. (Classic bluetooth adapters are not supported by iOS.)
- a generic WiFi OBD adapter will work in most cases.

If you need to buy an adapter, or to see a list of some that aren't ELM327 compatible, refer to the information in our FAQ page at http://www.CraftinDeApps.com/FAQ#MVC

These adapters plug into the OBD-II port under the left side of your dash.

The App itself is free. Use of the functions described below requires one-time in-app purchases to enable each one that you want to use.

MyVoltControl consolidates four functions, long available for other phones, and makes them available for the iPhone and iPad. In addition, the last one is unique to this app. These are known as:
-->> MyVoltHold
-->> MyVoltLifetime
-->> MyVoltDiag
-->> MyVoltAfterblow
-->> MyVolt12v

-->> The Volt Hold function does four things.
- First, at the top, it has several "information pages" that you can switch between to see information about your car. These are shown in the photos above.

- Second, it allows you to turn on a "Hold" mode which approximates the Hold mode built into the car beginning with the 2013 model. This Hold mode turns on the internal combustion engine (ICE) as needed to try to maintain a State of Charge value that is close to the charge that was present when you turned the mode on. So why, you may ask, would I want that function on a newer car. Very simple really. Since Sport mode and Hold mode are mutually exclusive, this function allows you to use the car Mode button to engage Sport mode, while using the Hold function in this App to achieve Hold mode at the same time! Hold mode can also be automatically engaged based on several factors.

- Next, it allows you to ask the car to run the internal combustion engine. You can use this to get heat from the engine on a cold morning, or to manually simulate your own Hold mode if you prefer.

- Finally, you can also use this function to force the ICE off, which you might want to do if the ICE is running due to low temperature (done for driver comfort).

The Volt Hold function is not available (and would serve no purpose) on the Chevrolet Bolt models.


-->> The Volt Lifetime function allows you to reset the lifetime fuel economy value ("Lifetime MPG" or "Lifetime L/100km") value for your car. You will find this useful if you've purchased a car which has recorded the previous owner's fuel economy results. You can also use this to calculate the distance travelled in both EV mode and on the ICE by entering the Lifetime Economy number shown on your dash. The Volt Lifetime function is not available (and would serve no purpose) on the Chevrolet Bolt models.


-->> The Volt Diag function allows you to run some tests on your high-voltage (traction) battery.


-->> The Volt Afterblow function allows you to control a system that GM added to your car to dry out the A/C vents. This system is OFF by default and the Volt Afterblow function allows you to turn it on (or back off).
This app function is not available for 2013 model year cars.

- You can use the My Volt Afterblow feature ONLY if you are using an OBD adapter which supports the SWCAN (aka GMLAN) bus. It must also support the "ST" command set (in addition to the common "AT" command set). Very few adapters offer this support. The known to be good and recommended adapters for this are the OBDLink MX+ or the OBDLink MX-Wifi adapters.


-->> The Volt 12v function displays graphs showing the values of voltage and current on your 12 volt battery.

What’s New

Version 2.7.0

In version 2.7.0:
- We added support for the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid vehicle.
- In the Volt Diag function, we now display the battery state-of-charge (SOC) for the Internal Resistance test.
- In the Volt Diag function, we now display the power draw from the battery which occurred when the Cell Balance test was running. If the test is being run at a low-SOC state, we issue instructions if the power is too low for that test to be valid. If the power draw was not consistent during any Cell Balance test, we issue instructions for that as well.
- In the Connection Help document, we added some information at the end of the MX+ section about making re-connections reliable.
- In the App Functions document, we added a graph at the end of the Volt Diag section showing how internal resistance varies with temperature and state-of-charge.
- We fixed some bugs and made other minor improvements in many places.

Ratings and Reviews

4.3 out of 5
11 Ratings

11 Ratings

dryhbzsyijbeeyjv ,

Great!

This app has proven essential to me as an owner of a 2011 Volt, a year with no hold function. I can now choose when to use battery and when to use gas. On longer trips, I will use gas going up longer hills and save the battery for flatter stretches. I also like the ability to lower the charge threshold at which the engine kicks on, preventing gas usage if I’m close to home. The option to force the engine on is useful to set conditions before emissions testing.

Developer Response ,

Thank you very much for your review! We are happy that you've found MyVoltControl to be so useful. We think you'll enjoy the "Auto-Hold" feature (just released in version 2.1.0) also. Check it out!

OnStar Guy ,

Cumbersome

I have a generic ELM 327 v1.5 WiFi adapter. It works well with dozens of apps, usually with little to no configuration. This app requires extensive WiFi configuration. When trying to connect, it gets a “error with gettingVINnumber command, adapter does not meet the ELM spec.” All the other apps can get the VIN number with no problem. They recommend an MX+ type adapter. $140. I don’t know what kind of magic is in it …. And I’ll never know because that’s just too much!

I got a reply from the developer, which just sounded like a lot of double talk. The bottom line is that I have only found one app that doesn’t work with my adapter. This app. All the other apps have - or only require - simple network setup and they work fine. This app is different than all the rest - it appears it’s capable of doing things the others don’t, but it wasn’t easy to use and didn’t work. I’m not a programmer but it appears to me that the very basic function of reading the VIN, that all the other apps are capable of performing, can’t be done by this app.
One star app.

Developer Response ,

It is unfortunate that you have an OBD adapter that doesn’t meet the ELM 327 spec as we require. That is no reason to give this app a 1-star review because it has nothing to do with this app.

We do mention that the MX+ is the best adapter, but we certainly don’t imply that you must have that adapter to be successful with this app. Hundreds of other people have much less expensive adapters that work very well. For others who may be interested, you can view our actual recommendations here: https://CraftinDeApps.com/faq/#MVC

You’re not actually unhappy with our WiFi configuration, which is a simple page with only two fields which are almost always left at their default values. What you’re unhappy with is that we did you the favor of giving you instructions on how to connect the WiFi OBD adapter to your phone so that you have data access at the same time that you are connected to the adapter. Most people would want that, but apparently it’s not important to you so you didn’t notice that you didn’t have a data connection when you were using other apps without following these instructions. The thing is, in order to make in-app purchases in MyVoltControl, you have to have a data connection. The other apps you use apparently don’t require in-app purchases. We do suggest that you not buy a WiFi adapter because of this complexity.

The ELM 327 spec provides several options for specifying how data is transmitted between the adapter and an application. The other apps you use chose to set those options in some way that worked, while MyVoltControl chose to set them in a way that your adapter manufacturer chose not to implement (so it doesn’t meet the spec). When you buy a very cheap adapter, you often get very cheap results.

aodias ,

Perfect app for a tired Volt

Thank you for developing the auto hold feature! Setting the auto hold SOC at 26% let’s me drive my volt like normal without fear of a P0AFA lockout from its tired battery.

I use the app with a wifi elm327 and an old iPhone 6 that stays in the car and so far have had no issues with the hold mode.

It would be nice if there was a way it could auto connect and start hold mode every time I start the car as long as the app stays open. Maybe that works with BLE or the OBDLink adapter? I’ll consider getting one of those to try out in the future.

Thanks again, I’m thrilled to have auto hold mode!

Developer Response ,

Thank you for your review! We're glad you're enjoying the App. We think you're going to like the expanded Auto-Hold support we just released in version 2.3.0 even more. Please feel free to contact us thru the "Support" item in the App Menu for any questions.
Yes, WiFi adapters require much more manual setup than other types. Check out the "Launch In Hold" App Menu item, or the just-released "quick links" App icon menu available in this new release.

App Privacy

The developer, Craftin De Apps LLC, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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