Key fob battery; spec and warning

[TahoeMichael]

A fob is just outdated for these cars at this point. PaaK is standard and expected for EV only manufacturers.

That said, I will, of course, deal with the fob knowing PaaK is coming. But my gosh darn fob has yet to work to start the car for more than a week. Brutal. But early adopter syndrome. It will be fine.

I'm going to have to disagree. I like being able to toss someone the fob if they're going to borrow my car. I certainly don't want to toss them my phone. I like that my fob (for my Toyota) lasts years on a single battery, and I never worry about it being dead, unlike my phone running out of power. My wife and I both play a lot of power hungry games on our phones, and have been known to drain not just the phone, but also a USB power bank.

 

[borski]

I'm going to have to disagree. I like being able to toss someone the fob if they're going to borrow my car. I certainly don't want to toss them my phone. I like that my fob (for my Toyota) lasts years on a single battery, and I never worry about it being dead, unlike my phone running out of power. My wife and I both play a lot of power hungry games on our phones, and have been known to drain not just the phone, but also a USB power bank.

I agree with you, but fwiw, Gravity’s PaaK solution will (at least optionally) use Apple Digital Key, which works (via proximity) even if your battery is dead, just like a transit pass.

 

[TahoeMichael]

I agree with you, but fwiw, Gravity’s PaaK solution will (at least optionally) use Apple Digital Key, which works (via proximity) even if your battery is dead, just like a transit pass.

I'll hold out hope that Lucid will also support Android Digital Car Key, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[Steve181]

I'm going to have to disagree. I like being able to toss someone the fob if they're going to borrow my car. I certainly don't want to toss them my phone. I like that my fob (for my Toyota) lasts years on a single battery, and I never worry about it being dead, unlike my phone running out of power. My wife and I both play a lot of power hungry games on our phones, and have been known to drain not just the phone, but also a USB power bank.

Me too. I would never use my phone as a key. A working fob is ideal for me.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

I'm going to have to disagree. I like being able to toss someone the fob if they're going to borrow my car. I certainly don't want to toss them my phone. I like that my fob (for my Toyota) lasts years on a single battery, and I never worry about it being dead, unlike my phone running out of power. My wife and I both play a lot of power hungry games on our phones, and have been known to drain not just the phone, but also a USB power bank.

That’s a really good point about letting others use the car. I agree with that. A fob is much easier than explaining how the keycard works.

I have too many other items in my pocket to easily fit the Gravity fob - iPhone, AirPods case, work fob, wallet, etc.

For personal use, I far prefer PaaK, but completely get the use case for a fob and hadn’t thought about that.

 

[9point81]

That’s a really good point about letting others use the car. I agree with that. A fob is much easier than explaining how the keycard works.

I have too many other items in my pocket to easily fit the Gravity fob - iPhone, AirPods case, work fob, wallet, etc.

For personal use, I far prefer PaaK, but completely get the use case for a fob and hadn’t thought about that.

I like having both options. With other cars with PaaK I still had the key card as a backup and once I could trust the PaaK to work is when I would stop bringing a fob. But I'm just still used to having at least one car key/fob on my key and when the PaaK feature releases, I'll probably still keep the fob and key card in my wallet. I have no intention of being unable to start or open my car again

 

[Spaceiscoolright]

With Air (and I'm assuming Gravity), the problem is the key fob and/or mobile key communicate with the car from much further away than they unlock. They say hi, then they figure out how far away they are from each other before unlocking. So if your fob is far from your car, nothing is happening until you wiggle it, you're fine. If your fob is sitting in your entryway bin with your keys and wallet 20 feet from your car, it's regularly saying "are we close together yet? are we? are we? how about now?" It's not unlocking, but it is talking and draining its battery.

I feel like that's what everyone has been saying this whole time over and over haha. Keep your keys away from the car and you're fine.

 

[Spaceiscoolright]

Yes faraday bags work! Period.

Yes scientifically they work. If you keep your key within 20 feet of the car. But it's not required for everyone. If you put it in a faraday bag and jiggle it regularly then the bag doesn't help, it will still transmit. If you keep the key far enough away from the car, it won't try and talk to the car.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

I like having both options. With other cars with PaaK I still had the key card as a backup and once I could trust the PaaK to work is when I would stop bringing a fob. But I'm just still used to having at least one car key/fob on my key and when the PaaK feature releases, I'll probably still keep the fob and key card in my wallet. I have no intention of being unable to start or open my car again

I always keep a keycard in my wallet even with PaaK. I had to use it for my Rivian a week ago when I was leaving work and realized my phone was dead…no phone, no PaaK. And they don’t have watch as a key (I really wish more folks did!). Lucid SHOULD work as watch as a key if they implement the Apple Car Key as they’ve said they will.

But I do hope to leave the fob in a drawer once PaaK comes out.

 

[Bill AGT]

Yes scientifically they work. If you keep your key within 20 feet of the car. But it's not required for everyone. If you put it in a faraday bag and jiggle it regularly then the bag doesn't help, it will still transmit. If you keep the key far enough away from the car, it won't try and talk to the car.

Yes it will transmit but not affect the car. As I stated earlier, I keep the fob in the faraday bag in the glovebox to use with valet. I also keep spare batteries.

 

[Allnatt]

My key fob died after 5 days with the car. I was actually relieved that it was the battery. I put a new battery in and it worked instantly.

In reviewing the owners manual it says you should get a warning msg, “Key Fob Battery Low” Have you guys been getting that or does the Fob just go dead?

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

In reviewing the owners manual it says you should get a warning msg, “Key Fob Battery Low” Have you guys been getting that or does the Fob just go dead?

No. I received no warning anywhere. It just died. This is why my initial thought was it was the “fob issue”. I think the lack of a warning probably goes to whatever issues the fob has with communicating with the car. Battery status could just be part of the UI in the app or the car.

 

[9point81]

In reviewing the owners manual it says you should get a warning msg, “Key Fob Battery Low” Have you guys been getting that or does the Fob just go dead?

I did, one time. Then it started not being detected. Changed it out and been flawless since. Haven't tried the new update yet tho.

 

[DeaneG]

I did, one time. Then it started not being detected. Changed it out and been flawless since. Haven't tried the new update yet tho.

I wonder if @Ron_Burgundy 's fob threw a low battery message before his car was delivered, so he never saw it. The fobs could have been in storage for months before the cars were ready for shipment.

 

[ChestRockwell]

In reviewing the owners manual it says you should get a warning msg, “Key Fob Battery Low” Have you guys been getting that or does the Fob just go dead?

No warning.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

I wonder if @Ron_Burgundy 's fob threw a low battery message before his car was delivered, so he never saw it. The fobs could have been in storage for months before the cars were ready for shipment.

The battery that just died was one I personally replaced (and was new) two weeks ago. So either it was bad to begin with or my fob (and some others) are eating batteries. I will see how long this one lasts…

 

[Allnatt]

The battery that just died was one I personally replaced (and was new) two weeks ago. So either it was bad to begin with or my fob (and some others) are eating batteries. I will see how long this one lasts…

It's of a prime concern for me because due to my center console issue I can't use my key cards. If my Fob battery dies 50 miles from home I've got a long walk ahead of me. I guess my best option is to put some spares in the glove box. I can still unlock the car with my phone and then swap out the fob battery if it came to that.

 

[segbrk]

It's of a prime concern for me because due to my center console issue I can't use my key cards. If my Fob battery dies 50 miles from home I've got a long walk ahead of me. I guess my best option is to put some spares in the glove box. I can still unlock the car with my phone and then swap out the fob battery if it came to that.

For Air: https://lucidowners.com/threads/using-the-valet-key-card.685/
Maybe there's an equivalent for Gravity?

Edit:

 

[johnse]

use Apple Digital Key, which works (via proximity) even if your battery is dead, just like a transit pass.

This is overstated a bit. It appears you have about 5 hours to unlock the car after the phone turns off for low battery.

I'll hold out hope that Lucid will also support Android Digital Car Key, but I won't hold my breath.

This article lists Lucid as already supporting Google's digital car key.

 

[DeaneG]

...This article lists Lucid as already supporting Google's digital car key.

Which article?