Experiencing a touch of déjà vu with my rental car this week. Much like my personal vehicles over the years, it seems to be shedding parts. While on a short trip out of town and relying on a rental, a peculiar device dislodged itself from under the dashboard. My initial thought? What exactly is this thing?
Dashboard view of a car interior with a device having fallen out and resting on the floor mat, highlighting the unexpected presence of aftermarket car technology.
My best guess is that it’s some sort of gadget that plugs into the OBDII port, designed to communicate data with the car’s computer. Looking closer, it’s equipped with a standard OBD plug on one end, and as confirmed by our in-house tech expert Steve DaSilva, an eight-pin Molex power plug on the other. Take a closer look:
Close-up of the OBDII connector of the device, showing the standard 16-pin interface used for vehicle diagnostics and data communication.
Detailed image of the Molex connector end of the device, revealing an eight-pin configuration for power and potentially additional data connections.
This mystery device decided to make its presence known just ten minutes after I picked up the rental, thankfully while I was stationary at a red light. It simply popped out and gently bumped against my ankle. However, it’s easy to imagine a more concerning scenario – if this had happened while driving, and the device had lodged itself behind the brake pedal, the situation could have quickly turned dangerous.
Image showing the device positioned near the car pedals, emphasizing the potential hazard it poses if it were to interfere with driving controls.
Turning the device over, I found a website address for PowerFleet, a company that promotes “on-demand visibility, intelligence and insights to power your fleet.” Their services are geared towards businesses managing large vehicle fleets, such as construction, delivery, and, notably, rental car companies. For rental agencies, PowerFleet’s website boasts capabilities like:
RentalFleet® offers in-depth insights into your car rental operations, helping to refine processes and continuously improve efficiency. Specifically designed to streamline rental and return procedures, RentalFleet delivers the real-time visibility necessary for a comprehensive overview. Implement intelligent solutions for your car rental fleet and steer your operations towards improvement.
- Boost fuel revenue and cut fuel expenses
- Enhance car return and processing efficiency
- Quickly identify available slots on the ready line
- Gain immediate insight into your vehicle inventory
- Simple installation across various makes and models
- Wireless download of future software updates
- Extensive library of OBD-II code interfaces
Promotional image from PowerFleet showcasing their telematics solutions for vehicle fleet management, emphasizing data-driven operational improvements.
This list, while informative, still leaves questions about the exact function of this device within my rental car. Is it intended for permanent installation, or is it a tool for employees to plug in post-rental to upload or download data? I suspect the latter, and perhaps an employee simply overlooked removing it from my vehicle.
Regardless of whether it’s intentional or an oversight, having a substantial piece of electronic hardware precariously positioned above the driver’s footwell is far from ideal. It raises questions about its specific purpose in rental cars and the data it gathers. Will my rental company be analyzing my driving telemetry after I return the vehicle? Will I receive a report card on my acceleration and braking habits? Am I taking highway off-ramps too cautiously?
If you have insights into the rental car industry or possess specific knowledge about these devices and their applications, your expertise would be greatly appreciated in the comments below. Understanding how rental companies utilize this technology and the data they potentially collect is a topic of significant interest.
