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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 ea
by 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 agoI just don't see why that complexity is necessary, when you could just give the user the key to the car.
- oh_sigh 7y agoThe 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 agoWhy 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 agoProbably 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.