Types of Tesla Keys

In short, three types of keys are responsible for opening/closing and accessing the control of Tesla vehicles:
1. Key Fob, a keychain in the shape of a small electric car.2. Smartphone application, which can replace the key.3. Key card.

Each of the three types has specific nuances, both in terms of usage and in terms of linking new keys to a specific Tesla vehicle of a certain model and generation. It is important to note that while the first two types of keys are present in all cars regardless of the production date and firmware, the key card is used only in cars produced after 2018: Model 3 and Model Y, where it was first introduced and designed, as well as in all others equipped with an AMD processor (for 3/Y first series, it may be Intel).

The main difference between the Key Fob and the key card is the method of communication with the car's body controller. In the case of the keychain, it uses a radio signal at a frequency of 466 MHz, while the card communicates with the car using the Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol, similar to payment and intercom cards. Smartphones connect to the car via Bluetooth and function similarly to keyless entry.

How and What to Use to Link Tesla Keys

The built-in functionality of Tesla provides a limited capability to link keys, but this applies only to additional keys and only to Model 3/Y or Model S/X equipped with AMD. In the case of Model X, the Key Fob can be programmed only once, and the blank is not intended for reuse. Considering the starting price of the key fob at $150 and the fact that only up to 10 keys can be linked to a Tesla Model X (while in other models the quantity is unlimited), this imposes additional responsibility on the person performing the procedure.
Excluding the option of linking phones to Tesla, which is available to every legitimate owner of an electric car when contacting an official dealer, linking keys of any other type—key fobs and cards—was a significant challenge in the past. However, everything changed with the introduction of Loki—a diagnostic scanner specifically designed to work with Tesla vehicles. Using Loki, it is possible to program keys of any type to cars with any processors. The equipment used remains the same; only the programming algorithms differ.

Brief Guide on Linking Keys to Various Tesla Models

As mentioned earlier, American brand cars use three types of processors:
1. Tegra;2. Intel;3. AMD.
The numbering corresponds to the time of appearance: the first type was exclusively used in Model S/X, the second "managed to catch up" with Model 3, and with the introduction and widespread production launch of the third type, AMD, in 2022, Elon Musk's company entered an era of conditional unification of functionality and service for all models produced. However, Loki successfully works with any models from all production years.
Keys are programmed into body controllers of the safety block, also known as "bodies," which differ depending on the Tesla model. There are three types:
● SEC – used in early versions of Model S.
● VCSEC – body controllers for Model 3/Y, both on Intel and AMD, and on Model S after 2022.
● BCEEN – Model X controller.

The last type differs in location: if the first two are located in the armrest on the central console next to the cup holders, BCEEN is attached to the front wall of the cabin under the dashboard. Due to this, for key programming, it is sometimes recommended to remove it from the car for procedure assurance since NFC confidently works only within a 10 mm radius, but this is not always necessary.

The methods of linking new keys to the car vary depending on the type of body controller. To program a key into the SEC block, which is a radio module, you need to first connect to it with the Loki device, clear the memory, removing all key codes, and then start the key programming procedure: first, select the Key Learn menu to get three empty slots for keys that will subsequently become the main ones. After that, press the two outer buttons on the key fob, and the controller will detect the fob, then press the central button – the key will be recorded. After linking the main key, the next ones can be programmed through the display.
In security blocks that operate via NFC, the process is even simpler, but in any case, it requires the presence of the multifunctional Loki device – there is no other way to program keys for all Tesla cars without exception. Naturally, the functions and capabilities of our diagnostic scanner are not limited to this – linking cards and key fobs is just a small part of what it can do. All this makes Loki a unique offering for service stations with no analogs in the world.