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Year: 2015

By Posted on Posted in Builds 1 Comment

Release Version 1.04 (2015.11.15) is ready and can now be downloaded from the Github releases page. As soon as Google has processed the updated publishing request, the new version should also be available in the Play Store.

Having received some comments about this, I want to stress that there will always be an APK of CanZE available as simple download. We do not plan to exclusively publish releases through the Google Play Store …

By Posted on Posted in Teaser No Comments

Last weeks release was not very stable with respect to the Bluetooth connection. A lot has been done to improve that, but if you have still have problems, please switch on “log to sdcard” in the new setting screen, so we might find some more remedies with the extra logs.

The Consumption screen has changed a lot and we hope you like it!

We removed a lot of overly technical information for the charging and braking screens based on feedback we got. Things are simpler now and more focussed on the things that matter. The old charging screen is still available in the experimental screen and we’re contemplating creating a third menu screen called “Technical” for the more detailed information.

As always, we appreciate your feedback. Enjoy!

By Posted on Posted in Builds 3 Comments

So here we go with version 1.03 with all the changes announced yesterday.

If you wonder that happened to version 1.02, this is easy: version 1.01 contained a nasty bug that we had to erase immediately and each update in the Google Play Store needs a mandatory higher version than the previous one.

Have fun!

By Posted on Posted in Teaser No Comments

This week we have above and under the hood developments for you.

We’ve added two heat-maps, giving a quick overview of your battery temperatures and voltages. Those will give you immediate insight in the overall stability of your battery pack: the colors indicate the deviation of the mean temperature / voltage.

Data for graphs is now retained much longer so your graphs will simply continue once you restart them.

Then there are some graphical updates, a bit better handling of different screen sizes. Also we’ve become a bit more aware of potential licensing issues so you might notice some different wording, removal of copyrighted graphics, stuff like that.

Of course there has been the usual bug fixing but we’ve also improved on the differences between the Zoe, Fluence and Kangoo.

Under the hood significant changes going are on. We’re constantly optimizing speed and memory usage and there are a lot of technical changes that you will notice above the hood too. One notable change is the ability to differentiate better between slow changing parameters, such as temperatures, and fast changing ones, such as speed. This way we can optimize display speed for the fast changing ones.

Also, there is now a setting to let CanZE continue to run in the background instead of closing or pausing. Note that this will use significantly more power on the device.

These enhancements create even more possibilities that we will announce and implement later.

DTC readout is already working for a few ECU’s, you can try in the experimental section (at your own risk!). It certainly works for the TCU (Telematics) and the CLUSTER (instrument panel).

By Posted on Posted in ZOE 11 Comments

We get a lot of questions about the braking system. Here is how it really works.

Zoe braking system

  • Coasting without braking is not a braking function and is performed entirely by the EVC (the motor management computer);
  • As the driver starts pushing the brake pedal, the requested torque is computed by the UBP (braking computer) based on main cylinder pressure and pedal position. This requested torque is passed to the ESC (the ABS computer that controls the oil valves to the friction brakes);
  • The EVC permanently sends messages to the UBP stating the maximum torque of the motor. This is determined by gear, SOC and temperature;
  • The UPB requests the EVC to apply braking torque. In principle this is the same as the driver requested torque, up until the maximum the motor can deliver;
  • The EVC sends the truly applied torque to the ESC. The ESC computes the difference and applies friction braking for any difference.

Note that if you put the car in N, no motor braking is possible and the ESC will command all braking through the friction brakes.

In normal operation this means braking is almost entirely regenerative, with the following exceptions:

  • very fast braking: the hydraulic system is faster than the electrical system (see below for some more details);
  • very powerful braking: the hydraulic brakes are more capable than the electrical system;
  • related to the above: if fast, powerful braking is applied, it’s hydraulics all the way as the car might want to apply any form of EPS which requires individual control of all 4 wheels;
  • when the electrical system cannot apply the requested torque (max charging power reached, you can see this in the driving and braking screen);
  • at very low speeds, when the motor simply cannot brake.

Here is a revealing graph: yellow (hard to see, hidden under purple and red) line  is the driver requested torque. The blue line is the regenerative torque and you can see the hydraulic system (red line) compensating for any difference. Note that the final cut over is at a very low energy state (roughly last half second before full stop, 10% of the time, 1% of the energy).

brake

*) Other than this graph shows, when serious braking is applied very fast (3rd bullet above), and therefore, the hydraulics kick in immediately and substantially, they are not released anymore and replaced by motor torque. So, for economical, max regen braking, it is better to not only push the braking pedal not too deep, but do do it gently too.

ps: look here for a description of the computers in the Zoe.

pps: there is a ton of information in this document on scribd.

ppps: Here is some more info on braking.

By Posted on Posted in Teaser No Comments

We have some exciting news this week.

CanZE is now available in the Google Play Store. Once installed that way, updates will come to you a tiny bit slower, but fully automated. We will maintain a weekly release schedule as long as features are changed or added as frequently as they are now. When we’re confident that the updates in the Play Store come through fast enough, we might close the download page here.

We were able to shed a lot of code that was no longer necessary, meaning easier to maintain, and less error prone. We hope to have added again a bit of stability.

Also, we have gained a lot of information about the Zoe this week, straight from Renault. Consequently, we also now know that a few things in CanZE are simply wrong. Friction braking is far smarter in the car than we anticipated, and that code needs to be rewritten. The information came in too late to make to this weeks release, just know that the friction braking bars are not correct for now JUST made it in time for today’s release.

Also, the firmware screen was unfortunately picking up a wrong field. This has been corrected, but of course we need to work on reference versions again based on your input. Please do report newer versions if you see them in your car.

By Posted on Posted in ZOE No Comments

Today I have spoken with a Renault specialist and to make a long story short: my definition of friction braking is WRONG. In normal operation, the brake system is entirely “fly by wire” and does not perform friction braking as CanZE reports. I will fix this, but I doubt it will make this weekend-release. Long story short, Zoe uses far more motor braking than anticipated. To be continued.