When I Took My Zipcar Into the Wilderness

code_devil wrote: post #6

jpindar wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you tell me exactly where you saw that? I don't see it.

“or when the vehicle battery dies. That last scenario was the one my family and I found ourselves in, though we did not know it at the time.”

[deleted]

Re: When I Took My Zipcar Into the Wilderness

#8

Post by braythwayt » Thu, Sep 05, 2019, 2:35 AM UTC

minutillo wrote: post #4

TL;DR: the car battery was dead

That's actually a problem with all modern cars: If the battery dies, the key fob won't open the door. In fact, if the battery dies in the car or the fob, you can't open the door.

But, there is a mechanical backup with an ordinary car. In my 2012 Volvo, I can open the driver's door with the mechanical key. If the fob is ded, I can physically insert it and start the car. If the car is also dead, I have to sort that out to drive it, obviously.

I like to MTB and I used to climb, so I carry a backup battery that can start the engine if need be. But I appreciate that with a ZipCar, the whole point is that you don't need to go somewhere and pick up a mechanical key. So it's really the same risk profile as if I were to drive around with the key fob, but leave the mechanical key at home.

The other worrisome thing is if a car is designed that it needs the Internet to start. If you drive it somewhere remote, you have a problem. Or if there is a service outage, you have a problem.

If I buy another car, it will probably brag thatI can use my phone as my key. I will still want to carry the mechanical key, but my phone will then become a single point of failure. With my fob, and my 2012 car, I can start the car even if the fob battery dies. But if my phone dies, I will be SOL.

Luckily, said backup battery that I carry in my car has a USB port to recharge my phone. But even then, what if the network is down? Am I to trust Bluetooth to do its thing?

These failure modes require some thinking through before going anywhere remote. I'd want to work all this out before taking another driving holiday with my family.

Re: When I Took My Zipcar Into the Wilderness

#9

Post by alphabettsy » Thu, Sep 05, 2019, 3:07 AM UTC

In basis of this case, vehicle battery was actual problem, as well as the Tesla outage there was a backup.

That people choose not to have it available isn’t completely the manufacturer or providers fault is it?

Re: When I Took My Zipcar Into the Wilderness

#10

Post by baroffoos » Thu, Sep 05, 2019, 3:15 AM UTC

braythwayt wrote: post #8

minutillo wrote: post #4

TL;DR: the car battery was dead

That's actually a problem with all modern cars: If the battery dies, the key fob won't open the door. In fact, if the battery dies in the car or the fob, you can't open the door. But, there is a mechanical backup with an ordinary car. In my 2012 Volvo, I can open the driver's door with the mechanical key. If the fob is ded, I can physically insert it and start the car. If the car is also dead, I have to sort that out…

If the battery is flat on the car then you are still pretty much out of luck even if you can get in. The only advantage to being able to open it is to use it as shelter in a emergency situation