Vehicle Simulator

Vehicle Simulator allows you to test your application in realistic scenarios with a simulated Smartcar-compatible vehicle. Simulator responds to API requests just like a real vehicle. You can choose a simulated trip for your vehicle to take, and track it over time.

You can use the simulator for initial testing before you have a real vehicle to connect, or as part of an end-to-end testing suite.

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Creating a Simulated Vehicle

Simulated vehicles are managed in the Smartcar Dashboard.

Select “Add a vehicle” and select a vehicle by Make, Model, and Year, or provide a VIN for a US-based vehicle that you want to simulate. You’ll be able to preview the API endpoints that are supported for the vehicle model you select.

Once you create your simulated vehicle, you’ll select a simulated trip profile that the vehicle will follow. This profile can run automatically over time, or you can manually select a stage of the trip for the vehicle in the Dashboard.

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Connecting a Simulated Vehicle

Simulated vehicles generate a special set of credentials that mimic what a real-world vehicle owner would have. You’ll use these credentials to establish a vehicle connection through the same Smartcar Connect flow that you will use for live vehicles.

In order for Connect to know you’re using credentials generated from Vehicle Simulator, you’ll need to pass mode=simulated in the Connect URL.

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Making requests to a Simulated Vehicle

Once your simulated vehicle is connected, you can make API requests to it just as you would a real vehicle.

Supported endpoints for the simulated vehicle will send responses with simulated data - unsupported endpoints will return errors just as they would with a real vehicle.

You can also send commands to simulated vehicles, like start/stop charge or lock/unlock doors. These requests will send responses that mimic that of a real vehicle, but the vehicle state will continue to reflect the simulated trip that was selected.

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Expected Responses

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Data

Permission	Request Method / Path	Example Response
read_engine_oil	GET /engine/oil	{ lifeRemaining: 0.35 }
read_battery	GET /battery	{ percentRemaining: 0.3, range: 40.5 }
read_battery	GET /battery/capacity	{ capacity: 28 }
read_charge	GET /charge	{ isPluggedIn: true, state: 'FULLY_CHARGED' }
read_charge	GET /charge/limit	{ limit: 1 }
read_fuel	GET /fuel	{ amountRemaining: 53.2, percentRemaining: 0.3, range: 40.5 }
read_location	GET /location	{ latitude: 37.4292, longitude: 122.1382 }
read_odometer	GET /odometer	{ distance: 104.32 }
read_tires	GET /tires/pressure	{ backLeft: 219.3, backRight: 219.3, frontLeft: 219.3, frontRight: 219.3 }
read_vehicle_info	GET /	{ id: 36ab27d0-fd9d-4455-823a-ce30af709ffc, make: "TESLA", model: "Model S", year: 2014 }
read_vin	GET /vin	{ vin: 1234A67Q90F2T4567 }

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Commands

Below are the various action requests that can be made to simulated vehicles, and what responses to expect based on the simulated vehicle’s current state or simulator support.

Not listed here are the standard API errors that will be returned if the vehicle does not support the capability or the application has not been granted permission.

Permission	Request (method / path)	Action request	Vehicle state	Response
control_security	POST /security	LOCK	Parked / Charging	{ status: "success" }
control_security	POST /security	UNLOCK	Parked / Charging	{ status: "success" }
control_security	POST /security	LOCK	Driving	{ type: VEHICLE_STATE, code: IN_MOTION }
control_security	POST /security	UNLOCK	Driving	{ type: VEHICLE_STATE, code: IN_MOTION }
control_charge	POST /charge	START	Charging	{ status: "success" }
control_charge	POST /charge	STOP	Charging	{ status: "success" }
control_charge	POST /charge	STOP	Parked / Driving (not plugged in)	{ type: VEHICLE_STATE, code: CHARGING_PLUG_NOT_CONNECTED }
control_charge	POST /charge	START	Parked / Driving (not plugged in)	{ type: VEHICLE_STATE, code: CHARGING_PLUG_NOT_CONNECTED }
control_charge	POST /charge-limit	<limit>	Charging	{ "type": "COMPATIBILITY", "code": "SMARTCAR_NOT_CAPABLE", }
control_charge	POST /charge-limit	<limit>	Parked / Driving (not plugged in)	{ type: VEHICLE_STATE, code: CHARGING_PLUG_NOT_CONNECTED }

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Errors

Event	Error response	Suggested resolution
Making an API request to a simulated vehicle before connecting the vehicle to your application via Smartcar Connect	{ type: "PERMISSION", statusCode: 403, resolution: "REAUTHENTICATE" }	Locate the ‘Connect Credentials’ button at the top of the simulation screen in the Smartcar Dashboard for your simulated vehicle. There you will find the credentials necessary to connect the vehicle to your application as well as instructions for doing so through Smartcar Connect.
Making an API request to a simulated vehicle before a simulation has been started on Dashboard	{ type: "CONNECTED_SERVICES_ACCOUNT", code: "ACCOUNT_ISSUE", statusCode: 400 }	Open the Simulator tab in the Smartcar Dashboard and navigate to your target vehicle. If you haven’t yet selected a vehicle state, do so now, and then start the simulation using the ‘Play’ button on the simulation screen.
Making an API request to a simulated vehicle that is not associated with your application	{ type: "CONNECTED_SERVICES_ACCOUNT", code: "VEHICLE_MISSING", statusCode: 400 }	Ensure the simulated vehicle you are making requests to has been created in the Simulator within your Smartcar Dashboard.

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Mode Comparison

Feature	Simulator	Live
Single Select	✅	✅
Brand Select	✅	✅
Compatibility API*	✅	✅
control_security	✅	✅
control_charge	✅	✅
Make-Specific Endpoints	❌	✅
Scheduled Webhooks	❌	✅
Event Based Webhooks**	❌	✅

*When a real VIN is used either through VIN@smartcar for test mode, or generating a simulated vehicle with a real VIN.

0SC and 1SC prefixed VINs will not work.

**For supported brands - Toyota, Ford and Tesla.

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FAQs