Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by 100100010001 2482 days ago
True, but there is still no physical way to turn the car on. Teslas rely on wireless communication to turn on. That seems like a poor design to me.
1 comments
xedeon 2482 days ago
So what you're saying is that keyless start mechanisms (also wireless btw) in modern cars today are also poor design?

Even if the keyfobs on the S/X run out of battery, they can still be used to unlock and start the car. Just like the keycard on the Model 3 (NFC based no battery needed): https://youtu.be/0J1VbeDfQmg?t=24

link
unfoldedCravat 2481 days ago
Most keyless start systems have a backup physical key[1] hidden inside the remote fob and will use very short range RFID [2] similar to older physical turn keys and their immobiliser chips to authenticate with the car ECU and allow the engine to start.

[1] https://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2016/03/21/20/42/pic...

[2] https://www.mazda3revolution.com/threads/if-the-battery-in-t...

link
xedeon 2481 days ago
I'm aware of this as I have owned cars with this feature. Modern cars do not use the physical key to "start". It's mostly only to open the driver side door.

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BttKQ6K-Y74

RFID/NFC is used to actually start the car like you pointed out.

On all current Tesla cars, they fobs and keycards can both unlock and start the car, making a physical key pointless.

link
100100010001 2481 days ago
Any car that relies solely on wireless communication to start isn’t well thought out.
link
xedeon 2481 days ago
> Any car that relies solely on wireless communication to start isn’t well thought out.

But this is not the case not just for Tesla but for most modern cars today. Not sure why you keep insisting this.

There is a backup method for modern electronic keyfobs (incuding Tesla cars) where you place it in a designated spot to start the car:

BMW: https://youtu.be/BttKQ6K-Y74?t=70

Lexus: https://youtu.be/9S8fm8UE9T8?t=57

Nissan: https://youtu.be/lV_HLwlOS-8?t=54

Audi: https://youtu.be/4gq4L9IQO7U?t=85

Tesla S/X: https://youtu.be/0J1VbeDfQmg?t=64

Tesla Model 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxCgtXEMVY

As you can see, it's not solely "wireless". In the Model 3 this is the default behavior. For both unlocking and starting if using the keycard.

If you can design a better system than the rest of the engineers in the auto industry combined, lets hear your idea.

link