Wash. Governor Inslee Signs Pro-Tesla Legislation, Hackers Find Ubuntu Inside
Automotive News reports Washington state governor Jay Inslee signed legislation that would allow Tesla to continue with its direct-sales business model within the state while also clarifying current law that favors traditional franchise dealership networks by preventing other automakers from following in Tesla’s path. The EV automaker thanked the state government “for supporting a culture of innovation and ultimately making the right decision for consumers” with the introduction of the bill into law.
In other government news, the California Air Resources Board is considering cutting EVs priced at $60,000 and above from the agency’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program as funding continues to run low, according to Capitol Weekly. Though the move would be temporary, the cap would push-out both the Cadillac ELR and Tesla’s Model S and upcoming X, a move that Tesla feels is disappointing:
[CARB] aims to paint Tesla as the sole purveyor of EVs (electric vehicles) to the wealthy, while disregarding the fact that individuals of similar affluence may still continue to receive a rebate by purchasing a different EV.
Finally, Autoblog Green reports a group of tech-savvy Tesla owners have dug into their EV’s console via its exposed Ethernet connector, discovering a subsystem powered by Linux distribution Ubuntu. The individual behind the dig, known only as ‘nlc,’ was contacted by the automaker through its service center, warning him that his exploration could void his car’s warranty should he persist.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Strike Two to the State of Washington . First the passing of 420 . And now allowing TESLA to lie , cheat and steal to their little hearts content while keeping other car dealerships in check . So I guess in WA it isn't about whether or not you are a thief . But rather what kind of thief you are . Preference obviously given to High Tech Grifters with Obamas blessing Hey ! Thats pretty good . " High Tech Grifter " Methinks thats a possible Song-Book-Article-Movie title in the making . Hmmmmmn.....
Is there just an 8P8C connector hanging out in the open or did they at least obscure this with a proprietary terminus?
Of course Tesla doesn't want you to mess with it's code. You could do all kinds of cool things, such as, make your plain Model S into something similar to a P85, without paying $25,000 to get it. This is a liability issue. What if you brick the car? Who is responsible? What if you buy a second hand Tesla and you have an accident due to a modification that the previous owner made? Who is responsible? A good (not good?) attorney might argue that it's Tesla, because they knew of this vulnerability, but did nothing to prevent it from being abused.
Speaking of Tesla, here are the renderings of the Saleen Tesla: http://ow.ly/vKu7f