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Here's my million dollar car idea:

Digital maintenance logs

Seriously, how useful would that be? A simple onboard SQLite database (or even text file) you can add stuff to via a phone app. That way, when someone asks "when was the last time this car had an oil change?" you can simply check the logs. You can check when your wiper blades were last replaced, etc. If it's standard enough, Jiffy Lube can update it with whatever work they did.

For now I just settle for a paper logbook in the glove compartment...



I think a lot of quick-change oil shops and etc are selling that data to Carfax already. The insurance companies already have access to some of this data too.


Not quite what you're talking about but it's US federal law to keep electronic log books for long haul trucking. Can't be on paper anymore. Not that you'd need a law to do what you're asking. Could be as simple as a text file on a USB mass storage device built into the car. Type whatever notes you want into it.


Seems really annoying to have to define that standard and keep the schemas up to date vs. just having the same thing behind an API in the cloud.


Well if you have it behind an API in the cloud, how is it going to be transferred when you sell the car? Having it in the car means it's guaranteed to follow the car regardless of who owns it or where it is located.




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