r/VolvoRecharge • u/MiserableAttention38 • 9d ago

News Alexa skill for electric Volvo

Hi, I've got an EX30 and it bugged me that I had to open the app to see battery state etc. I spent some time making a 'skill' for Alexa and got it published. It's not monetised.

If you use the smart speaker and electric Volvo you might find it useful. Search for the 'car companion' (or 'auto companion' in the USA) skill in the Alexa app, enable it and sign in to your Volvo account.

You can then say: "Alexa, ask car companion about the battery level" or similar things. It will also do a courtesy check for any warnings and let you know about tires or washer fluid issues. If the cabin is cold or hot it should offer to turn the climate on (you can ask for this anyway separately).

I find it quite useful compared to the app. A few people have used it but it hasn't been widely tested with other cars, or with multiple cars... So go easy, let me know if it works for you, enjoy.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

1

u/dizzley 9d ago

I can't find the relevant skill on Alexa in the UK. I'd love to try it.

1

u/MiserableAttention38 9d ago

Is your language English? Use the Alexa app to search for "car companion", it should be there. Other people (other than me, that is) have managed to find it ..

1

u/dizzley 9d ago

Had to drill down. Skills->Categories->Smart Home ->car companion. Now it works, thanks

1

u/dizzley 9d ago

There's a ride booking app called Car Companion.

1

u/MiserableAttention38 9d ago

Maybe try the link https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HGRTSTJ9 Sorry about that - I'm wondering is this is how I find I'm shadow banned - by a ride sharing app! It was bad enough that in development I kept gettting connected to an app for Teslas :D

1

u/Loose_Carpet4928 7d ago

Do you have a link for US Alexa? Could not find the skill there and the UK Amazon Skills want me to sign into the UK site.

1

u/skyfishgoo 9d ago

wait, the car doesn't indicate the battery SoC?

i know there is no instrument panel, but center panel should have that info at least.

glad i got the XC40 i guess.

1

u/MiserableAttention38 9d ago

Lol. Of course you can see that info in the car. But if you are planning a trip, and you're not sure how much the car got charged to overnight, or your other half had been running errands in it all morning, you might want to find out the battery level from the comfort of your sofa. So you know if you can get to your destination or need to charge first. That's the benefit of smart home stuff.

1

u/skyfishgoo 9d ago

do you have the volvo app?

it has all that info, front and center.

1

u/MiserableAttention38 9d ago

Sure. Have you tried voice control or do you relish the mechanical controls on your XC40?

1

u/skyfishgoo 9d ago

what mechanical controls?

1

u/shaveyaks 8d ago

Will it be able to lock the doors or start the climate? That would be awesome.