4 ms·

If the car has no signal, how is it unlocked?

oh_sigh 7y ago
They could give your phone a signed token indicating your rental times, and then let your phone directly connect to the car to hand it off. Presumably it is easier for a human with a phone to move to a location with service than moving a locked car, usually just out of the cave you're in.
- rebuilder 7y ago
  I just don't see why that complexity is necessary, when you could just give the user the key to the car.
  - oh_sigh 7y ago
    The whole point of zip car is that you aren't reserving it a week in advance and want to wait for a key to be mailed to you.
    - rebuilder 7y ago
      Why can't they just leave the key in the glove compartment? That way, Zipcar only needs to unlock the car remotely when the user starts the rental, and lock the car remotely when the rental ends. In between, the user can use the key. like with every other car.
      - technofiend 7y ago
        Probably to prevent accidentally taking the key. If you've ever used a zipcar, the key is affixed to the steering column. I assume they have an ignition interrupter that requires a proper unlock signal because otherwise stealing one would be matter of jimmying a lock or breaking a window.
rebuilder 7y ago
That's a problem when starting the rental and returning the car. Pickup points should be placed in areas with good reception. But in any case, not being able to start a rental is a nuisance. Not being able to use the car once you've driven it somewhere is potentially dangerous. I don't see why the car should need a connection to unlock once the rental has been started.
cbcoutinho 7y ago
In the Netherlands, we have Greenwheels, which in addition to being accessible using an app, also allows you to open the car with an NFC-enabled card (I'm assuming for the case where my phone doesn't have reception?). If the car doesn't have reception either then I'm not sure you would be able to open it. EDIT: Actually, after you pick up the car and start driving it, you (un)lock the car using the keys that are in the glovebox. In principle, you should be able to drive into dead zones without an issue
pmontra 7y ago
Good question, but if there is no signal how could the previous driver have locked the car? Similar services I'm using don't let me end the rental if there is no signal, simply because either the car or the shop on my phone can't talk with the server.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

They could give your phone a signed token indicating your rental times, and then let your phone directly connect to the car to hand it off. Presumably it is easier for a human with a phone to move to a location with service than moving a locked car, usually just out of the cave you're in.

rebuilder 7y ago
I just don't see why that complexity is necessary, when you could just give the user the key to the car.
- oh_sigh 7y ago
  The whole point of zip car is that you aren't reserving it a week in advance and want to wait for a key to be mailed to you.
  - rebuilder 7y ago
    Why can't they just leave the key in the glove compartment? That way, Zipcar only needs to unlock the car remotely when the user starts the rental, and lock the car remotely when the rental ends. In between, the user can use the key. like with every other car.
    - technofiend 7y ago
      Probably to prevent accidentally taking the key. If you've ever used a zipcar, the key is affixed to the steering column. I assume they have an ignition interrupter that requires a proper unlock signal because otherwise stealing one would be matter of jimmying a lock or breaking a window.

rebuilder 7y ago

That's a problem when starting the rental and returning the car. Pickup points should be placed in areas with good reception. But in any case, not being able to start a rental is a nuisance. Not being able to use the car once you've driven it somewhere is potentially dangerous. I don't see why the car should need a connection to unlock once the rental has been started.

cbcoutinho 7y ago

In the Netherlands, we have Greenwheels, which in addition to being accessible using an app, also allows you to open the car with an NFC-enabled card (I'm assuming for the case where my phone doesn't have reception?). If the car doesn't have reception either then I'm not sure you would be able to open it. EDIT: Actually, after you pick up the car and start driving it, you (un)lock the car using the keys that are in the glovebox. In principle, you should be able to drive into dead zones without an issue

pmontra 7y ago

Good question, but if there is no signal how could the previous driver have locked the car? Similar services I'm using don't let me end the rental if there is no signal, simply because either the car or the shop on my phone can't talk with the server.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]