2023 Chevy Bolt DIY Car computer based on Netgear M5 and Raspberry PI

This project is still work in progress

I've been driving a 2023 Chevy Bolt for a year now, and let me tell you, it's a sweet ride. But, if you're like me, you might feel it's missing some of the cool tech features that a Tesla boasts. Sure, it comes with an optional OnStar subscription, but at over $30 a month for limited functionality, it leaves a lot to be desired.

So, I thought, why not soup it up a bit? In this blog post, I'm going to walk you through my ongoing project to equip my Bolt with "Tesla-like" remote functionality and an unlimited WiFi network for those days when my car doubles as my office. Buckle up, and let's dive in!

Hardware selection:

1. Hotspot for On-The-Go Internet

First things first, we need Internet access. Luckily, I had a spare Netgear M5 lying around, so I decided to put it to good use in this project.

2. Choosing the Right Service Provider

Next up, we need a reliable mobile service. I've been using "Helium Mobile" for my mobile service. For just $20 a month, they provide unlimited everything and use T-Mobile towers. Living in Austin, I've seen speeds over 500Mbps at times, and a solid average of 100Mbps even during peak hours.

3. Remote Control Your Chevy Bolt

Now, here's where things get interesting. Instead of attempting to hack into the car system, I took a simpler route. I bought a cheap remote key off Amazon, stripped off the cover/case, and used only the circuit board inside.

4. Powering Up with a 12.8V 18Ah LiFePo4 Battery

To avoid depleting the car's 12V battery, and since tapping into the car's traction battery seemed like a headache, I decided to purchase a LiFePo4 battery off Amazon for a mere $45. This little powerhouse can easily keep the Pi and Hotspot running for days without me having to worry about the car battery.

5. The Brain of the Operation - Raspberry Pi 2

Finally, for the main controller, I chose the Raspberry Pi 2. It's a robust and flexible piece of hardware, boasting a plethora of GPIOs that are perfect for connecting to the key and various subcircuits.

But why the Raspberry Pi 2, you might ask? Well, the truth is, I had one lying around from a previous project. And as they say, "waste not, want not." So, I decided to put it to good use, and it's proven to be an excellent choice for this project.

The Software Side of Things

1. Choosing the OS - Debian on Raspberry Pi

Why Debian, you ask? Well, no particular reason, except it's the Linux OS that I'm most comfortable with. If it ain't broke, why fix it, right?

2. Making the Raspberry Pi and Netgear M5 Speak the Same Language

morainic, has this awesome shell script on Github to control the Netgear M1. Inspired by their work, I decided to put my own spin on it. I forked it here, added some functions to control WiFi, and tweaked it to play nice with Netgear M5.

3. Adding Raspberry Pi to the Smart Home Ecosystem

As the project develops, I've decided to take things up a notch. I've integrated this setup with Home Assistant, my centralized hub for controlling all my smart devices. With this integration, I can add a lot of features like controlling Wifi on/off, remotely opening/closing car doors, starting the car remotely, and monitoring the car's status.

Follow this post on the steps to set up your Raspberry Pi as a Home Assistant (HASS) node.

And that's it for now! I'll keep you posted on my progress and any new developments.