DRM To Be Used In Renault Electric Cars

mahiskali writes with this interesting news via the EFF's Deep Links "The new Renault Zoe comes with a 'feature' that absolutely nobody wants. Instead of selling consumers a complete car that they can use, repair, and upgrade as they see fit, Renault has opted to lock purchasers into a rental contract with a battery manufacturer and enforce that contract with digital rights management (DRM) restrictions that can remotely prevent the battery from charging at all. This coming on the heels of the recent Trans-Pacific Partnership IP Rights Chapter leak certainly makes you wonder how much of that device (car?) you really own. Perhaps Merriam-Webster can simply change the definition of ownership."

Defensive move

[jamesl]

Perhaps this has something to do with preventing people from using the battery longer than is safe. Because we know that when things catch fire or stop working the immediate remedy is to sue.

Not entirely new

[cornjones]

This is obnoxious but not entirely new. My 2005 volvo has a 'feature' where the power steering pump can only be changed by volvo as the software 'needs an update' before the car will start again. Can't even have another garage do it, you need the volvo computers.

I guess it is just a way to ensure the dealership garages stay in business.

Re:No Problem.

[bob_super]

People who realize that the main drag on buying electric cars (in countries with short commutes) is the lack of resale value because of battery life worries.

Under Renault's scheme, you don't own the battery, just the frame, and you can even do road trips by swapping batteries along the way without worries about getting yours back (intact or damaged). Because you don't own it and you can just go get a new one anytime, and so does the guy who'd like to spend 10k on your used car but is worried about having to buy a 7k battery a month later.

The DRM part probably comes from the fact that if you don't pay your lease, Europeans don't have the wild US repo guys. It takes a while to get the battery you don't own out of the car you do own via the legal system.

Re:And all these computer parts in cars...

[BronsCon]

The computer *CAN* tune the engine for better efficiency, but if you run too lean you risk grenading the engine. As a result, the computers are programmed to operate with a large (IMO too large) margin of safety, resulting in often *WORSE* fuel economy than older cars.