Do we really need to make people act like thermostats?
The logic of a heated "anything" is usually set-point and thermostatically controlled.
The default heated steering wheel, if turned on, is to keep the wheel at a warm grip temp. (You set the temp once and forget it).
My 30 year old Mercedes has heated mirrors option, and they absolutely nailed it back then! I LOVE THE WAY it's implemented. Should still be this way today. The manual says something like, "when it's cold outside they are automatically on". Simple. No control button or indicator of any kind required. No wasted words, or anything to be concerned about. Go Germans!
We don't need all the minutia of ON/OFF controls from the App...
What we need is a button "get the car ready to drive in 10 (slider) minutes".
..and then the car goes into action, doing a "macro of things" carried out on your behalf.
- If the car is plugged in, and below its charge limit... start a charge cycle topping up the battery.
- If the car interior is not at "room temperature" turn on HVAC to room temperature.
- If it's "cold outside", then turn on the heated steering wheel to get to a warm grip temp
- If you have a entry/exit profile ... select that profile to get the seat & wheel ready for entry
- If you have winter package and it's below freezing outside, turn on the nozzle heaters
- If you have heated mirrors, turn them on...
- Turn the stereo volume down to 3....
whatever... do it all!! Why make a user peck away at 20 features? When it's all defined by a mode.
How about another button on the App, "secure the car"?
- All windows roll up, anti-pinch sensing of course
- Pano roof closes
- DVR recording from 360 view cameras turns on
- Alarm on
- Handles retracted if they weren't already
- All interior lighting stays off
- Wifi powered off
- Bluetooth powered off
- De-permit or further delay any scheduled OTA install