Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

cnn.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 555 posts

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#21

Post by Guthur »

2rsf wrote: post #17
GiorgioG wrote: post #2

It won’t be my interest in saving the planet that stops me from buying cars, it’ll be bullshit like this. I want to own my car. I don’t want it to be connected (beyond acting as a hotspot) to the internet or to some central service. Have we not learned anything?

Don't you want software upgrades? cars are loaded with technology, some of it is for "fun" like navigation of music services, but a lot if for safety reasons and this requires frequent updating.

No it doesn't, if it isn't safe already it shouldn't be on the road and needs a recall.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#22

Post by _yb2s »

2rsf wrote: post #17
GiorgioG wrote: post #2

It won’t be my interest in saving the planet that stops me from buying cars, it’ll be bullshit like this. I want to own my car. I don’t want it to be connected (beyond acting as a hotspot) to the internet or to some central service. Have we not learned anything?

Don't you want software upgrades? cars are loaded with technology, some of it is for "fun" like navigation of music services, but a lot if for safety reasons and this requires frequent updating.

I want it to be simple and well tested so it doesn’t need updates, just like the physical parts of the car.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#23

Post by skinkestek »

bizzleDawg wrote: post #9

The old "Download more RAM" meme is feeling less funny and more prophetic these days

RAM Doubler or something like that was an actual working thing back in the days, that worked by (IIRC) transparently zipping/unzipped data on its way to/from memory.

But yes, I agree.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#24

Post by fowtowmowcow »

_yb2s wrote: post #22
2rsf wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't you want software upgrades? cars are loaded with technology, some of it is for "fun" like navigation of music services, but a lot if for safety reasons and this requires frequent updating.

I want it to be simple and well tested so it doesn’t need updates, just like the physical parts of the car.

Even with the best programmers and safety measures in the world NASA still had to update the space shuttle.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/flyout/flyfeature...

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#25

Post by Faaak »

2rsf wrote: post #17
GiorgioG wrote: post #2

It won’t be my interest in saving the planet that stops me from buying cars, it’ll be bullshit like this. I want to own my car. I don’t want it to be connected (beyond acting as a hotspot) to the internet or to some central service. Have we not learned anything?

Don't you want software upgrades? cars are loaded with technology, some of it is for "fun" like navigation of music services, but a lot if for safety reasons and this requires frequent updating.

You can still update physically without needing OTA stuff

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#26

Post by 2rsf »

_yb2s wrote: post #22
2rsf wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't you want software upgrades? cars are loaded with technology, some of it is for "fun" like navigation of music services, but a lot if for safety reasons and this requires frequent updating.

I want it to be simple and well tested so it doesn’t need updates, just like the physical parts of the car.

Simple means no advanced safety, comfort and other features, once software is involved it will never be tested enough especially at the price point cars are sold at.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#27

Post by jnsaff2 »

jackmott42 wrote: post #3

There is a sense in which this can make sense, in that unlocking the power increases the chance of failure during warranty. So you pay to hedge against that. But we can be certain car makers will not be giving you the option to unlock this for free post warranty. The fact that you aren't given control of your car when you own it is pretty awful and a terrible trend. I expect the trend will continue, I've not yet in m…

Lead power electronics engineer: "for the projected lifetime failure rate of x as targeted the maximum power should be y"

Lead battery engineer: "for the projected lifetime cycles the maximum current drawn from the battery should be z"

Lead marketing dude: "so we market it as 2 * y, 2 * lifetime cycles and try to upsell on power" mumbling to themself: "I get my bonus on sales, the recall or warranty claims are not my problem anymore, I'll be partying with the bransons"

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#28

Post by 2rsf »

fowtowmowcow wrote: post #24
_yb2s wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want it to be simple and well tested so it doesn’t need updates, just like the physical parts of the car.

Even with the best programmers and safety measures in the world NASA still had to update the space shuttle. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/flyout/flyfeature...

And the Curiosity Mars Rover

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#29

Post by 2rsf »

Faaak wrote: post #25
2rsf wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't you want software upgrades? cars are loaded with technology, some of it is for "fun" like navigation of music services, but a lot if for safety reasons and this requires frequent updating.

You can still update physically without needing OTA stuff

You can, my Polestar allows you to skip OTA and ask a service center to do it for you or not at all.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#30

Post by tomatotomato37 »

beebmam wrote: post #8
jackmott42 wrote: post #3

There is a sense in which this can make sense, in that unlocking the power increases the chance of failure during warranty. So you pay to hedge against that. But we can be certain car makers will not be giving you the option to unlock this for free post warranty. The fact that you aren't given control of your car when you own it is pretty awful and a terrible trend. I expect the trend will continue, I've not yet in m…

Aren't max speeds limited all the time on vehicles, with state mandated governors? I know some countries require them on all automobiles. Even the US requires them on ebikes.

Modern cars usually have their engine max speed limited so they don't exceed your average all-season tire's speed rating, but arguably that's more equivalent to a redline limiter preventing your pistons from self-destructing than an type of anti-freedom measure
Post reply on HN