{"id":31270,"date":"2022-05-31T23:45:41","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T23:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/the-push-button-ignition-was-a-luxurious-way-to-start-your-car-until-it-wasnt\/"},"modified":"2022-05-31T23:45:41","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T23:45:41","slug":"the-push-button-ignition-was-a-luxurious-way-to-start-your-car-until-it-wasnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/the-push-button-ignition-was-a-luxurious-way-to-start-your-car-until-it-wasnt\/","title":{"rendered":"The push-button ignition was a luxurious way to start your car until it wasn’t"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The first time I started a car by pressing a button, it felt too easy and convenient – like I had somehow stumbled into a tax bracket I don’t belong in. “You’re telling me,” I thought, “that I can just leave my keys in my pocket, and the car will let me get in and drive around?” <\/p>\n

The push-button ignition is one of those buttons that doesn’t really add<\/em> any new functionality over the thing it’s replacing (in this case, the ignition system that has you insert and turn a key). It exists solely for the sake of convenience, a job that it excels at. You get in the car, press down on the brake pedal and a button, and you’re ready to drive. It’s barely more difficult than unlocking your phone. <\/p>\n

It’s also, for most of us, anyway, the most raw power we can generate with just our fingertips. Flipping a switch on a surge protector could give you access to nearly 2,000 watts. That’s not a small sum, but pushing a button to start a car gives you the power to move yourself, your family, luggage, and, oh yeah, a machine that weighs thousands of pounds at highway speeds.<\/p>\n

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Near instant access to over 100 horsepower.<\/em><\/figcaption>Image: Amelia Holowaty Krales \/ The Verge<\/cite><\/p>\n

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The actual buttons themselves are relatively standard across the auto industry, which is surprising considering how different regular old keys can be. Every one I’ve seen has been circular, located somewhere to the right of the steering wheel, and has lighting to indicate that your car is on. There are some safety measures – many cars guard against accidental starts by requiring a simultaneous press of the brake pedal. Personally, it feels like just the right mix of convenience and manual process – the foot \/ hand coordination makes it feel like you’re doing<\/em> something, but you don’t have the annoyance of fiddling with a key.<\/p>\n

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