https://wccftech.com/new-eu-law-demands-replaceable-smartphone-batteries/
Additional video on this:
A new EU law will require all mobile devices to have user-replaceable batteries by 2027. In this episode we take a look at the law, it’s consequences and right to repair.
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Next: I would like them to prohibit software limitations on hardware shipped in products so that if you ship a product with a hardware which is enabled on any device, you may not disable that hardware on different models. Ex - putting a 60kWh battery pack in all of your cars but limiting the usage in software based on pricing, or installing heaters which are enabled in some models but not in others.
Tesla and most car companies are starting to do this as a norm. More and more we need to becareful in what we buy…
Thanks for bringing it up!
Not saying if it is 100% good or not but this might add costs and time. The main reason for that is to simplify the fabrication process so there is a single line without different hardware configurations.
Not allowing it will reduce material waste in some cases that’s true though. And in a way reduce the possibility of subscription models based on hardware unlocked by software which is good.
If they can sell a full-option car for the lowest priced model, then charging extra for the options is just price gouging.
There is a full-option car to reduce assembly line complexity which reduces the manufacturing cost. You have one line and components building one car and then you can pay for what you want. If they build a separate line for a cheaper car it won’t be as cheap anymore. Subscriptions, on the other hand, is a different business model and I don’t agree with subscriptions for cars.
The only reason the stuff is there is because not putting it on certain cars and putting it on others would be more expensive that putting it on all cars. So they took the approach to put everything and simply lock it depending on the consumer needs. That and the fact that some people change their minds and it allows to unlock features after they have bought their vehicle.
It is not price gouging. They are selling them cheaper because it has less features, that’s it. If you add features you pay more. The difference it’s that the hardware is there already, but that doesn’t matter, the price isn’t just the hardware. If it required hardware changes the exact same would happen but the costs of building the car would go up due the increase in complexity of the construction for the car.
If all the cars had all the features unlocked you simply would pay more per vehicle, they wouldn’t suddenly become cheaper.
A separate thing is the subscriptions models… That I agree is completely gouging.
Although the manufacturing process might simplify, negative impact on our planet will most definitely increase.
I really hope car manufacturers would start making really cheap and basic versions of their cars. Modern cars are filled to the brim with features I could easily live without and don’t want to pay extra for.
All I really need is electric windows in the front, heated seats, power steering, ABS/traction control, AC, cruise control, radio with USB and bluetooth, heated rear glass and mirros and that’s pretty much it. Reverse camera is nice but not mandatory. The last thing I want for my car is internet access. Abso-fucking-lutely not.
Backup cameras, at least in the US, are a legally mandated feature. Cars cannot come without them.
If anyone ever tries to sell you a car based on ‘it has a backup camera!’, be very skeptical of what else they’re trying to upsell you on that’s legally required.
All of the things you mentioned other than A/C, power steer and ABS are premium. But I drive a car from 2007 so what do I know.
what’s that for? I assume it’s for the wintertime? ( I live in PH )
yeah it’s the rear defrost for melting ice and snow in the winter. where I’m from it’s all but mandatory in the winters
Yeah. To melt ice and snow. Now that I think about it heated steering wheel would be nice too.
Heated windscreen is also a good thing to have.
Yeah but Ford has or atleast had a patent for this so it’s not available on other brands
It won’t happen. You might end up with a “basic” model which, for them, is a zero profit vehicle - possibly even sold at a slight loss. But everything will be installed and cryptographically keyed to your car (like Apple dies with their screens and cameras, “for security”). All the waste will be baked into the car- extra materials you can’t sell, extra weight that reduces efficiency, extra expense should something break or be damaged.
You’ll get a car with a 100kWh battery, ABS, Traction control 4 wheel drive, autopilot (actually it will be 4 levels of cruise control), auto braking, cameras, side air bags, heated and cooled seats, mini fridge, swivel chairs, ac, heat, heads up display, 24” touch screen, battery heaters, dual charging, home-power, solar charging, regenerative braking, the works. You’ll have single, slow charging, 20kWk, no regen braking and no amenities except the minimum required by law in your are (ie backup cam but not front or side, driver/pass airbags but no side) But just adding ac, heat, and terrestrial radio (controlled using a 7” area of the 24” screen) will be 100% profit and only accessible by monthly subscription. And when you sell the car, it will have zero fuctions and require new payments.
I’m calling out car makers, but tech is front and center. Why not sell one, sealed Xbox with a 2TB drive, but charge a monthly fee to unlock all but 500GB. Or 10Gbit wired and 6EWi-Fi, but throttled to 100mb. . Or limited to 2.4G, with 5G being $2.99 and 6G channels bring $3.99. 1GB hardwire is $2.99, 10G is $3.99. For 5.99/mo you can unlock their MaxNet service with 10G and 6E Wi-Fi.
Oculus might sell one SKU of headset with 512GB storage, but 256/512 are $50/100 price tiers. Apple might do the same on phones and iPads.
Laptops might go to soldered ram, discrete gpu, SSD and get you to pay once or monthly for activation of anything more than the minimum. Batteries migh be the same. Or even a 4K screen that is limited to 1080p without a paid unlock.