[zakisaad]

This was stated about the key: "Folded into the base is a mechanical backup key, a flat metal blade in a hinged housing."

I own a BYD: this is not true. The key is not hinged; rather, the entire mechanical key pulls out when a small clip is unlatched near the top of the assembly (you can see it in the CT). I assume the circular hinge-looking mechanism in the CT is just a by product of the plastic/metal weld process.

Nonetheless: very cool tech demo!

[al_borland]

I wasn’t surprised by the backup key, but rather by how empty it was. I really wish key fobs were smaller. They are quite bulky in a pocket and bigger than all my actual keys combined.

[DaSHacka]

If you own a 3D printer, there are oftentimes STLs people publish online to shrink the size of the fob.

Made my keys much less bulky

[al_borland]

Now that’s an idea… I found one for my car, but kind of hate it.

I don’t have a 3D printer currently. I did help my cousin’s kid by one and they told me if I ever wanted to print something to let them know, but I have a feeling I’ll need to design my own with some trial and error.

I’ve hesitated buying one, because the idea of having a machine to melt plastic in my house seems like a bad idea when it comes to air quality.

[dghlsakjg]

Depends on the plastic, but even the most benign ones put out very minor amounts of fumes if YouTube testers are to be believed. Note that fumes in this case just means that they are seeing changes in AQI meters, which is something that can happen with too many people sitting in a room.

If it’s something you worry about, the enclosed models frequently either come with, or can be fitted with a carbon filter, and if you are really worried, you can use dryer vent to get it outside.

With the most popular plastic (PLA) at printing temperatures, there isn’t any data showing toxic byproducts. When you get into things like ABS and resin you have to think more about fumes.

[shrx]

Do not print a key fob out of PLA. It will not survive summer car temperatures. A better choice is PETG, or ABS and ASA if you have an enclosed printer that can vent outside.

[ectospheno]

You leave your key in the car? And you don’t run the air conditioner when you are inside?

[exhilaration]

FYI my local library in suburban Pennsylvania has a 3D printer for public use. Check yours.

[rationalist]

It was suspected in the past that Lumafield used AI to write the descriptions of previous scans. It is possible they are still doing so.

[ranger_danger]

If it's AI then I'm surprised to see it make this mistake:

> None of these components is particularly extraordinary in isolation

[dash2]

Why is that a mistake?

[Terr_]

I'm guessing parent-poster is saying the "is" should be "are", on the basis that the word "components" is plural.

That said, I didn't perceive a problem either, and my self-diagnosis is that "none of the X" feels like it could be evoking a singular item that failed to be found.

[tecleandor]

Yep, I think the singular is ok, as it could be just one. Seems like it could be both.

Cambridge says...

> In formal styles, we use none of with a singular verb when it is the subject. However, in informal speaking, people often use plural verbs...

Collins says:

> Since none has the meanings “not one” and “not any,” some insist that it always be treated as a singular and be followed by a singular verb: The rescue party searched for survivors, but none was found. However, none has been used with both singular and plural verbs since the 9th century. When the sense is “not any persons or things” (as in the example above), the plural is more common: … none were found. Only when none is clearly intended to mean “not one” or “not any” is it followed by a singular verb: Of all my articles, none has received more acclaim than my latest one.

[zimpenfish]

> "none of the X"

But it was "none of -these- X" which (to me, at least) is a secondary signal for plurality indicating that "are" is (doubly) preferable to "is".

(I don't find "none of these components is ..." to be egregiously wrong but it definitely gives a brain hiccup where the "... are ..." variant is much smoother.)

[pimlottc]

Having a mechanical key hidden in the electronic key fob is nothing new, it’s common on many cars.

[zakisaad]

I guess my intent was not to point out that it has a mechanical key, rather that the description of the key on the webpage was wrong (it is not hinged).

The mechanical key fallback pattern is standard across the industry for sure.

[defrost]

It's entirely possible that the BYD key they scanned and the BYD key you possess are of different designs.

[jonathanlydall]

Possible, but I doubt it.

Article says key fobs are the same across all their cars and this looks the same as mine for a Sealion 5, there is no hinge for the key you just pull it out.

Likely the article authors just assumed from looking at the scan, if they’d actually tried to remove the key they would have realised their mistake.

[postepowanieadm]

This: different markets get different style keys.

[imp0cat]

Before keyless became defacto standard, most keys were fixed on a hinge - you'd first unlock your car by pressing a button on the fob, then swing the key open and use it to start the car.

Nowadays the physical key is only a backup, safely stowed inside the fob. It is meant to be pulled out only in an emergency.

[a96]

Mercedes changed to the IR key in maybe turn of the 90's. The plastic blob would be used to turn the ignition like before, but the locking part was electrical (optical). There was still a metal key that could be pulled out and used on the exterior locks if the central locking was out.

When keyless start came, there was a dummy button that fit in the ignition lock that could be pushed to start. If there was a problem, you could pop it out and use the key as before.

IIRC, all that, so may have mistakes. Just crossed my mind that they went a few decades between no metal ignition key and keyless. MB being MB, I wouldn't be surprised if they still had models with that same "old" system and keyless as an option.

[pimlottc]

Ah, I misread your earlier revision's enthusiasm at the end as being about the mechanical key, not the CT scan.

[phinnaeus]

I remember playing with my parent's VW key fob as a fidget toy in the 00s. Little spring loaded switchblade style mechanical key.

[cwbriscoe]

My 2015 Honda had that and my new car does as well.

[aidenn0]

And yet my Hyundai key fob, despite being the largest fob I've ever seen doesn't do this :/

[spockz]

Yes sadly the Hyundai and Kia key fobs of EVs (at least EV9) don’t have the mechanical backup key in the fob anymore. So you need to carry it on your keychain. Don’t leave it in your trunk. If the 12V battery does out you won’t be able to get into the car.

[aidenn0]

I have a Kona EV, so you can add that as a data-point.

[MobiusHorizons]

Anecdotally on my Hyundai ionic hybrid from 2018 it does have a mechanical key in the fob, but it is very non-obvious. It’s physically the same piece as the keyring section at the top of the fob. There is a small catch you release to remove the key from the plastic fob body and it slides out the top.

All this to say Hyundai certainly knows how to do this. If they didn’t do it, it is almost certainly a deliberate omission.

[2dvisio]

The mechanical key has a hinge (to be able to operate it), but it’s not “hinged” to the fob.

https://youtu.be/0aspbvdCXqs?si=9pcToYeg4EcoHfPJ