Tesla owner gets US$400 car key chip implant in his hand over phone Bluetooth issues

Citing "aggressive" Bluetooth power management on his phone, Tesla owner Brandon Dalaly went an implanted a VivoKey Apex chip in his own hand to replace his car key. The "subdermal contactless secure element" was inserted through a small incision on the top of his hand and he now uses it to open as well as start his Tesla.

Needless to say, Brandon could have used one of the other less painful solutions out there, like the KIMISS Tesla car key ring you can get on Amazon, but his obvious purpose was to undergo the biohacking procedure of sorts and hope to engage Elon Musk whom he tagged in the tweet announcing the implant.

"I want to make it clear that this chip has more functions than just the Tesla. The Tesla key is just an app that was installed on it. It's perfect for me because my phone's Bluetooth power management is so aggressive my phone key only works half the time," he added, justifying the procedure.

There is another explanation, though, as Brandon is participating in a pilot VivoKey testing program and this is not his first chip implant. He also placed one in his left hand - probably the VivoKey Spark 2 - that lets him unlock his home as well as store medical and contact details. The Tesla car key implant was done by a professional who inserted the VivoKey Apex contraption that is covered in biocompatible coating, and charged Brandon US$400 for the procedure.

Being a VivoKey tester he probably didn't have to shell out for the chip, too, which exists to serve those ready and willing to sacrifice some skin integrity in exchange for being part of our transhuman future right now. "It took a little long for the sensor to pick it up because I filmed that 3 days after implantation and there was still swelling. Now it reads with a quick tap to the pillar. It can also be paired with any future Tesla," says Brandon, explaining his hit-or-miss initial efforts to open and start the car in the video below.