Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Can you buy an EV, that doesn't connect to the internet and is reasonably priced?

I know that is what I am waiting for.



My Audi e-tron now sells for $25-35k used (from the original $80k+USD MSRP!) I did not pay for the internet package, and therefore my car is now completely offline. I use apple carplay so the MMI/computer is mostly useless anyway.

I believe on Teslas you can outright remove the SIM that provides internet, and the car would function mostly fine. Used model 3s are in the sub $20k range now.


> I believe on Teslas you can outright remove the SIM that provides internet, and the car would function mostly fine. Used model 3s are in the sub $20k range now.

A friend of mine had his Tesla's radio/modem/whatever chip die, so his internet connectivity stuff didn't work. He told me that most things continued to work just fine and he continued to drive it for a few days while waiting for his repair appointment.

So... add a "friend of a friend" confirmation to that.


Pretty sure OP plans on using their car for more than "a few days".


Presumably you would not be able to get Ota fixes for recall events, though.

Does tesla even have a procedure to install such updates without Ota?


No idea, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't. When this friend told me about his broken network radio and that he was getting it replaced I just told him that I would leave it broken and consider it a feature...


> I did not pay for the internet package, and therefore my car is now completely offline.

Are you sure? Most (all?) newish cars that I know of phone home whether or not you have user-facing internet connectivity.


Off topic, but what do you think of your e-tron? Would you recommend?


I’m not the person who you’re replying to, but my co-worker was just telling me about her e-tron last week. She was trying to not be negative, but really had nothing but negative things to say.

From what I remember:

- It came with free charging through Electricity America(?), so she has been trying to use it. They are often full or broken. The app doesn’t work. She ends up having to call support to get charging started, because the app issues. And the overall process takes 2+ hours. She wants to use the free charging on principle, but it’s becoming too much of a burden, so she started to charge at home on the normal 110 power, it just takes forever, so it won’t work with a longer commute.

- The range, especially in the winter, is much below the stated range. When factoring in the need to wait hours to charge, she said her effective range before getting a lot of range anxiety is around 100 miles or less.

- I think she also mentioned some issues they required the dealer, and getting the run around.

There was probably more, it was a long convo all about it. Some of the issues were specific to charging at our office, which is irrelevant here. She seemed pretty unhappy, but was trying to make the best of it since she already had the car. I think the biggest issues was the half baked charging infrastructure and the apps to authorize the charging. Apparently credit cards can be used, like at a gas station, but then it’s not free.


Thanks for the response. The more I look into EVs the more they seem just impractical to me given our current infrastructure. Even with the ability to install a level 2 charger at home, it seems scary to make long trips. I'm seeing a bunch of issues with these cars 12V batteries also.


Yes, this is why I won't buy any EVs on the market in the US. But it's not special to EVs -- it's why I won't buy any recently manufactured ICE cars either.


Nissan Leaf with OVMS (disconnected from Nissan Connect services) is something I was happy with.


That pic of a car's console saying "update failed, your car cannot be driven" has completely turned me away from even considering an EV for a few more years.


I found just the thing! It doesn't go fast and can be a bit chilly in winter but it'll run most of the day on a charge

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256388965168?hash=item3bb1f92330:...


I got a Renault Zoe and even if I complained with the dealer doesn't connect to internet and doesn't have an app ( in Lithuania )


Dacia Spring is so bare-bones, the base model doesn't even have a screen.


Sounds good to me, but I don't think that such cars are legal in the US any more.


Same. My biggest gripe. Also, buttons. I know putting everything in a monitor is cheaper for you, EV maker. We still want buttons.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: