Authorized Operation of Vehicles

A system for enabling a user to start a vehicle, comprising:

• a SmartFuse in a fuse box of the vehicle, the SmartFuse having a first terminal coupled to vehicle battery voltage and a second terminal coupled to a vehicle element essential to be powered to start the vehicle, the SmartFuse comprising;
• a first microprocessor in the SmartFuse executing first coded instructions from a non-transitory medium;
• a first data repository in the SmartFuse coupled to the first microprocessor;
• a normally open electrical contact in a conductor connected in series with a fuse filament between the first and second terminals of the SmartFuse, the normally open electrical contact controlled by the first microprocessor;
• and
• first wireless communication circuitry coupled in the SmartFuse to the first microprocessor;
• a smartphone having a second microprocessor executing a mobile application, the smartphone comprising:
• second wireless communication circuitry compatible with the first wireless communication circuitry;
• a second data repository coupled to the second microprocessor and storing a list of identities of drivers authorized to operate the vehicle;
• and
• an input mechanism enabling a candidate driver to identify to the second microprocessor;
• wherein the candidate driver identifies to the second microprocessor by the input mechanism, the second microprocessor, executing the mobile application, determines if the driver identity matches an identity on the list of identities of drivers authorized to operate the vehicle, and if so, signals the first microprocessor in the SmartFuse to close the normally open electrical contact in the SmartFuse, enabling the vehicle to be started.