The evolution of car keys is a fascinating journey that saw the transition from simple mechanical keys to today’s advanced smart keys, transponder chips, and keyless entry systems. Believe it or not, when the first cars were manufactured, they did not have keys. Such cars could only be turned on through comprehensive maneuvers, and only specific individuals understood such a process.
At the turn of the 20th century in 1910, manufacturers came up with the first car key that car owners could only use to lock the ignition. Still, in this case, the driver had to crank up the engine to start the car. From there, it took several years before manufacturers came up with other versions of keys.
Throughout history, car key technology, including the ignition old car keys and key systems used to start the engine, has drastically evolved to meet the security needs of both car manufacturers and owners. Read on to see inside the evolution of car keys over the years.
Evolution of Car Keys
The Transition from Physical Key to Keyless Entry System
Edge Cut Keys
The idea of producing car keys started with traditional metal ones. In 1949, Chrysler became one of the first car manufacturing companies to introduce mechanical keys that could turn the ignition on. The mechanical keys of that period had one edge.
Later in 1965, Ford invented double-sided keys that were more secure than single-sided keys. Although these keys have cuts on both edges that provide more security than their predecessor, people could still duplicate them.
Sidewinder Keys
In the 1970s, manufacturers decided to enhance the security of their cars. Car manufacturers introduced the sidewinder key, also known as a laser-cut key, which was more difficult to duplicate and provided added security for modern cars.
Although these keys were still mechanical, one of the best aspects of them is that they had unique winding cuts on both surfaces of the key blade. These keys had smooth or rough edges, but their carving made them unique and challenging for one to replicate.
The sidewinder keys had a specialized kind of cutter that engraved the cut specification on a key blade. Since that time, sidewinder car keys have continued to gain popularity in the modern car market.
Remote Keys
The next evolution of car keys enabled car owners to start their cars without using a physical key. Such technology came with other additional functions that included unlocking and locking the car trunk and car doors remotely. This introduction of remote key fobs enabled drivers to conveniently lock and unlock, or even start the car, using radio signals. The remote car key design comes with varying levels of security, shapes, frequencies, and sizes.
General Motors introduced one of the first remote car keys, known as VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System), in the mid-1980s. The 1986 Chevrolet Corvette added a coded resistor to its VAT key. Such a technique provided more security that protected cars from brute force attacks on their lock system.
Transponder Keys
During the late 1990s, manufacturers made transponder keys that involved a combination of sidewinder keys with a small RFID emulation circuit or RFID chip. This era marked when car keys started having chips, a significant leap in key technology that improved vehicle security. Transponder keys, also called chip keys, communicate with the car’s engine control unit using radio signals.
One of the advantages of these car keys is that they could hinder brutal force attacks on a car locking system. When a car senses a transponder key enter the ignition, the key and ignition lock cylinder will communicate through radio frequencies. This technique enables the car computer to determine if the key attempting to turn on the car is authorized.
Since their beginning, these types of keys have continued to evolve to be increasingly secure and popular. The presence of chips in modern cars means that duplicating car keys with chips now requires specialized equipment, adding complexity for anyone needing a replacement.
In case you have managed to drive a car manufactured in the late 1990s or early 2000s, you might use a transponder key. On the contrary, if you lose your transponder key, you can find it challenging to replace it. In this case, there are several chips, security levels, technologies in transponder-equipped cars, and intensive training is needed to create a new copy.
How Car Keys Are Made
Keys are made by first selecting the right material, typically metal for traditional keys or plastic for electronic ones. A key blank, which resembles the finished key but without cuts, is created and placed in a cutting machine. The machine cuts notches and grooves into the key blank to match a specific lock, creating a unique pattern. For mechanical car keys or traditional keys, the cuts are made along the key’s blade, while for more advanced keys like sidewinder or transponder keys, additional cuts or grooves are added for security.
For smart keys or key fobs, a microchip is embedded into the key’s head, allowing it to communicate with a car’s security system. The key is then tested for functionality, cleaned, polished, and sometimes coated for durability. In the case of electronic keys, programming is added to sync the key with the vehicle or device, ensuring proper operation and security.
Production of Modern-Day Smart Keys
The evolution of car keys has now reached the point where key fobs and smart keys are the norm for many modern cars. The production of these smart keys employs state-of-the-art security such as keyless entry systems, making it easy to lock and unlock your vehicle without touching the door handle.
Currently, most cars have a combination of mechanical, transponder, and remote keys in a single unit known as a remote. In this case, the remote is used to open the trunk and lock or unlock doors, while a transponder is used to start a car.
The production of smart keys started in 1990 when Jaguar used a key known as Tibbe in its models before the key became extinct by the end of 2013. Lexus LS 400, which was introduced in the 1990s, became the earliest model to use laser-cut keys that came with additional security, making duplication difficult.
In the 1990s, Mercedes-Benz came up with a switchblade key that flipped off a remote locking key fob. Current Volkswagen vehicles still use this kind of key.
Keyless Entry and Smartphone App Innovations
Keyless Entry
In 1993, Chevrolet introduced a proximity keyless entry system for starting a car. Such systems removed the need for a physical key; your car can now detect your key fob, allowing entry with a simple touch on the door handle. To start a car, you have to insert a fob into a slot on the dashboard and push a button. Such technology eliminated the need to turn on the ignition and reduced the number of mechanical parts.
In general, such a system provided better convenience and security.
In 2003, Mercedes came up with a fully functional proximity key that resembled a credit card, and after a few months, Lexus introduced a version of a smart card. Later in 2004, Chevrolet launched remote start-up keys. With these advanced car keys, you no longer need to turn the ignition; just insert the key fob into a slot and push a button to start the engine.
Modern Smart Car Keys
In 2016, BMW introduced the best modern display keys, which included an LCD touch screen. Through this technology, you can unlock your vehicle while you are 100 miles away. The 7-series of BMW, produced in 2016, does have a key that can open the trunk and set the climate control. You can recharge this key using a USB cable.
Later in 2018, integrating car key controls with smart devices and a credit card key backup pushed key technology further into the future for modern cars.
What to Expect in the Future of Car Key Technology
Today, many manufacturers are developing keyless systems, radio signal technologies, and even smartphone apps to enhance security and convenience. An average consumer might not realize the evolution of car keys, but in the market, you can get a variety of car keys. When it comes to the security of your car, you should understand the differences between different kinds of keys and what led manufacturers to produce them.
As key design evolves, criminals also search for ways to bypass smart key systems, prompting car manufacturers to improve key technology and security. We expect more advanced key technologies in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did car keys start having chips, and why was this technology introduced?
Car keys began having transponder chips in the mid-1990s. This key technology was introduced to combat rising car theft, adding electronic security that required the correct chip to start the engine, making unauthorized duplication or hotwiring much more difficult.
How do modern keyless entry systems work compared to traditional keys?
Modern keyless entry systems allow you to lock, unlock, and even start the car without inserting a physical key. The key fob communicates via radio signals with the car, which recognizes the authorized key fob’s proximity and enables the use of the ignition or push-button start.
Is it possible to duplicate car keys with chips, and how is it done?
Yes, but duplicating car keys with chips requires specialized equipment and knowledge. Locksmiths use programming tools to sync a new chip with the car’s immobilizer system, unlike duplicating a simple old car key without electronics.
What is a transponder key, and how does it provide security?
A transponder key contains a small chip that communicates with the vehicle’s immobilizer system when inserted into the ignition. If the ignition and key chip match, the car will start, offering advanced security over traditional mechanical keys.
Can I unlock or start my car with a smartphone app?
Many modern cars now support unlocking, locking, and starting the engine through dedicated smartphone apps. These digital or virtual keys use Bluetooth or internet signals, often as part of broader keyless systems and smart key technology, for added security and convenience.
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