The Story of the Renault Card Key
The hands-free card is one of the most important inventions ever to change the way people use their cars. Pascaline, the Head of Cross-Cutting Products at Renault Group Products goes over the history of this little device.
The origins of a card
A crucial part of the lives of car owners, Renault's hands-free card has become a global phenomenon. The first time it was designed, around 20 years ago it is among the top innovations from the company. Pascaline who is the Head of Cross-Cutting Products at the Products division takes us on a an adventure to find out the story behind this useful accessory.
It was in 2001 that the Laguna II, a saloon aimed at embodying 'lifestyle' driving, went into production. It was an era of a lot of innovation with various new equipment capabilities that let customers take advantage of their vehicle to the fullest.
However, the owners of these cars still had to use keys to open and close their doors. Renault engineers realized that this was a huge problem for many.
As a result, they decided to put a keycard that is contactless into their vehicles and create an system that would allow users to unlock and start their vehicles by merely waving a hand. The result is the key card, that is now found on a third of Renault vehicles. The card can be found in the ignition barrel or in the center console, the car will unlock when the card approaches and close automatically when it's removed. This authentic Renault remote control keycard (without blade). It comes individually clam-packed and is ready to be programmed with Abrites Diagnostics for Renault/ Dacia Software with the ProTAG Programmer.
The design
A Renault key card, or even a remote car key is a great feature to have in our daily lives. Unfortunately, these items can fail due to wear and tear or dropping. When this happens, it can be quite stressful. There are, however, several ways to replace your Renault key card. One option is to call your dealership. However, this could take a long time, and it could be costly. A professional locksmith is an alternative option.
SR Key Solutions has the necessary equipment to program and manufacture Renault keys and cards. We can change your key for less than the price a dealer would charge. We can also provide it faster than dealers.
This product is compatible with Renault Laguna II, Espace 4 and Vel Satis keycards (keyless entry system). renault megane replacement key card protects your keycard whilst creating a beautiful design. It is available in two colors and can be personalized with your VIN or a logo. It can be used with a standard keychain or put inside a key case. This is an authentic Renault item and can only be used with the vehicle for which it was ordered. Please provide your VIN to ensure that the correct key is sent.
The technology
Renault key cards are equipped with transponder chips and a low frequency communication feature that enables the card to communicate with your vehicle. These chips can crack from normal use, and it is very expensive to replace or repair them at a dealer. We can repair or replace your Renault key card at less than the dealer cost.
The hands-free card was first launched in 2001 on the Laguna II saloon, which was designed to embody the "lifestyle" vehicle of the 21st century. But, despite a thorough design brief based on more than 6000 customer interviews that examined their lifestyles, habits, and expectations, Renault ran out of time to develop prototypes and test all possible applications.
Bernard Dumondel was the product leader of Laguna II at the time. He used the hotel room key to unlock the car. Since the key was an extremely small magnetic strip, Bernard Dumondel thought it might be possible to create a car key that functioned in a similar way.
In the years that followed, the card was praised as a revolutionary technology and is now offered on two of three Renault vehicles. Although smartphones appear to be nearing the point of replacing it, Renault has chosen to utilize these new technologies without letting the hands-free card slip to the side.
The keyless entry system
The hands free card of Renault was a groundbreaking piece of technology when it first came out 20 years ago. The exterior is the same, but the technology has been upgraded to make it easier to use and more difficult to hack.
In the first place, it cannot be used to unlock the doors or start the engine from outside the vehicle unless it is activated by the driver. This is because radio antennae "around the car" are programmed to detect whether the key is inside or outside. The key will continue to turn the ignition from a distance however, it won't unlock the doors. This is to protect you.
The other thing to note is that the wireless remote control transmissions of the system make use of a rolling code. This lowers the likelihood of security being compromised by someone who intercepts and retransmits the control message in order to gain access but isn't a guarantee of avoiding the risk completely. [1]
If the key fob on your Megane suddenly ceases to work, particularly after dropping it to the floor it could indicate that the receiver module has failed. If this is the case, you'll need to replace it with an authentic Renault replacement. To find out more you can click on the 'Key Programming Information tab' above. Customers who are in the locksmith or motor trades can sign up for a trade account and benefit from preferential pricing.