You already know your smartphone tracks your every move like a jealous ex. And your car? Duh, it’s been watching you since Bluetooth became a thing.
Here’s the shocker: Researchers at MIT just revealed that your EV battery alone can quietly map your life without GPS, Wi-Fi or cell signals.
Before you even think, “Kim, this doesn’t matter to me. I drive a gas car.” It’s important because at some point, you’ll probably own a hybrid.
📍 EVs’ breadcrumb trail
Every time you accelerate, brake, idle or park, your battery’s energy use shifts. Researchers fed this data into machine learning models, and boom, they could pinpoint your starting point, destination, route and even how long you were at a stoplight. With over 90% accuracy. Dang.
Worse, this battery data is being collected and stored by carmakers, service centers, EV charging apps, insurers or anyone willing to pay for behavioral gold.
This isn’t just a Tesla thing. It’s any modern EV or plug-in hybrid with built-in telematics, which includes most new vehicles.
⚠️ What happens if you turn telematics off?
Yes, you can disable telematics in many cars (though it’s buried in menus or requires dealer help). But here’s what you give up:
- Over-the-air updates for features and security patches
- Remote access via apps (locking/unlocking, remote start, pre-air conditioning)
- Emergency crash response (like GM’s OnStar or Ford’s 911 Assist)
- Battery health reporting and smart diagnostics
It’s a trade-off: privacy vs. convenience. Most people never knew they were trading in the first place.
🔎 See what your car knows about you
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