Autoblog tests the newest and most-compelling technologies for the Technology of the Year award. Technology is changing every aspect of transportation and evaluating how these features work is a key part of our jobs at Autoblog. This year we had a crowded field of forward-looking technologies. Let's take a look at this year's competitors.
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TranscriptGREG MIGLIORE: Autoblog tests the newest and most compelling technologies for our Technology of the Year Award. Technology is changing every aspect of transportation and evaluating how these features work is a key part of our jobs at Autoblog. This year we had a crowded field of forward-looking technologies
We tested the Ford Pro Power Onboard generator, Mercedes' augmented reality head up display and infotainment, and the Android auto operating system in the Polestar 2. We evaluated them by asking three simple questions, what is the purpose? Does it work? And does it advance the industry?
We tested the features and awarded them points based on these criteria, then the editors debated and voted. The winner this year, the Ford Pro Power Onboard.
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- The goal of Ford's Pro Power Onboard system is simple, it provides owners with a ludicrous amount of generator power directly from their pickup truck's bed. We tested the 2021 Ford F 150 power boost 7.2 kilowatt generator system, which comes equipped with four 120 volt 20 amp outlets and one 240 volt 30 amp outlet.
Even after plugging in at running a tailgates worth of electronics, the system was hardly breaking a sweat. Ford says you can run a 120 volt plasma cutter, 120 volt tig welder, chop saw, 1.5 horsepower air compressor, angle grinder, and work light all at the same time for up to 32 hours straight, assuming you start with a full tank of fuel. It's powerful enough to run your household appliances in the case of a blackout or natural disaster too.
Using this system is super easy. All you need to do is press the dedicated generator button on the dash and you're good to go. Ford lets you monitor how much of the generator's power you're using in the infotainment system so you can see how many additional items can theoretically be plugged in. Our testing found the system to function flawlessly and we came away convinced that this technology is a game changer that will be copied by many other manufacturers in the years to come.
Second place went to the new Mercedes-Benz augmented reality head up display and infotainment technology. We tested this tech in the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 to see if this flashy new navigational aid would be enough to take the crown. This is the first application of augmented reality in a production car and Mercedes uses the tech to project directions onto the road ahead of you.
Through the use of cameras and the Ar head up display, Mercedes is able to provide the most precise and helpful navigational information we've seen in a car yet. However, it wasn't enough to win first place. Detractors complain that the augmented reality was distracting and pointed out that it's a redundant feature next to all the other ways a car could theoretically navigate to your destination.
Third place went to Android automotive as tested in the 2021 Polestar 2. This technology is touted as a revolution for infotainment. It's the first Android based infotainment system, which is a big deal after we've dealt with years of largely manufacturer designed infotainment systems. Similar to the variation seen in Android phones, car companies have the ability to skin and style the user interface as they wish but it's all built on the same basic Android automotive architecture.
That means you get Google Maps as the native navigation system, Google Assistant as the in-car voice control, and the Google Play Store to download any apps you might want. After testing, it's obvious that the potential for a better infotainment experience is there, however, the system as it stands today isn't fully baked.
We experience a number of system glitches in testing, namely Google Maps buffering and backup camera blackouts. The app selection in the Google Play store is also deeply lacking in choice. We'll be watching Android automotive over the coming years but as it stands today, the system pales in importance and ultimate potential of our winner, Pro Power Onboard from Ford.
GREG MIGLIORE: Ford Pro Power Onboard is a technology that improves lives, it helps people, it helps them get the job done and have fun afterwards. Perhaps it's not as flashy as a touch screen or Google powered infotainment system but technology can take on many forms and means many different things. Trucks have always been tools but Ford's Pro Power Onboard advances this concept through the creative use of electricity. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore.
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