Re: A few downsides
. BMW is actively looking at Ethernet too, so is GM. So Tesla is not alone. Ethernet has gone a long way and modern twisted pair chipsets have better error rates and higher MTBF that Cambus (especially when running at "mere" 100Mbit).
Deterministic ethernet will probably replace Canbus in the next few years mainly because cars are far more "intelligent" than years ago when all you wanted your network to do is to turn your headlights on and off. Now, apart from the intelligent sensors festooning the car, we also want GPS, SatNAv, internet, DVD and a sound system. Not only that but if you add a TV screen to each seat, that is a lot of data being thrown around.
Now you could have separate networks for these things, but in terms of simplicity and weight it makes sense to have it on one network. Ethernet has the bandwidth and is already utilised for a lot of this stuff. Of course you have the issue of data separation and ensuring the ABS is not delayed by little Johnny watching Frozen for the 50th time, which is why we need the later deterministic ethernet standards to be more widely implemented that allows QOS and determinism of multiple VPN's across the same cable.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
