Comment on Tough, Tiny, and Totally Repairable: Inside the Framework 12
LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 1 week agoI think that has more to do with safety laws and emission standards than anything else. How can you properly crash test a fully modular car?
I’d love it if cars were more repairable, but modular would be a really tough design problem.
Heck, you NEED a screen in the US on any car due to backup cameras being mandatory. If you need a screen, I can see why companies would just use it for the infotainment system.
hansolo@lemmy.today 1 week ago
Yes and no. There’s a YT video of some guy fixing anything on any car. The catch is that for components for easy things are getting harder and harder to reach. I always used to change my oil myself because it takes 20 minutes and I know the filter got replaced. Harder and harder to do every car I have. So even basic maintenance I can’t do myself anymore.
Modular components could be workable in terms of you pick frame 1, 2, or 3 with batteries. Then you pick wheels/motors packs A, B, or C. Then you pick more and more options. If you own the A and C options, it’s a 45 minute swap out with a system that confirms things are plugged in right. Not every configuration would work together. Toyota uses a lot of interchangeable parts between cars. I mean do this with a whole back end or front end. So like 5 swappable zones that work in maybe 15 possible configurations per frame.
Maybe you want a battle wagon. And want to grow out of that to a pickup. Or start with compact car and expand to a compact SUV.