Reinventing the Door Handle
Design-wise, flush exterior handles look sleek and help reduce aerodynamic drag slightly. At the same time, electronic handles have made their way inside cars, too, ranging from buttons to, again, electronic handles. We’re now at the point where the simple and reliable door pulls are getting electronically assisted.
It’s forced manufacturers who make such doors to make emergency door openers in case of emergencies, such as fires. However, there have been some serious concerns about it, particularly in an emergency situation with fire.
A Major Concern
It goes without saying that getting away from a fire as quickly as possible is of utmost importance. Every millisecond counts, and easy access to any escape route is key. Getting trapped is the worst possible thing to happen to anyone faced with a car fire situation.
A growing number of EV fire incidents have resulted in deaths, with some allegedly linked to occupants being unable to open the doors. Bloomberg has reported that Tesla has some of the most high-profile cases of such incidents.
Tesla Model X configurator
The Report
Per Bloomberg, its report focused on accidents in which the occupants survived the initial impact but perished in the fire that followed. So far, the publication has tied at least 15 EV fire fatalities to Tesla’s vehicles.
One case Bloomberg pointed out was an accident in Easton, Massachusetts. After slamming into a tree, the driver was able to call emergency services but was unable to exit his Model Y. The police report noted “he was trapped inside of the vehicle after a crash and the vehicle was now on fire.” At the time of writing, the government noted 140 cases of door handle malfunction in the Model Y.
Another crash in Wisconsin also had occupants survive the crash, but were unable to escape the burning vehicle. The vehicle involved was a Model S, and five perished in that accident. These cars are equipped with emergency openers that manually override the electronic switches, but it’s hard to determine if those failed to work or if the mental state of the victims was at play. The families of the victims have since sued Tesla.
Tesla
Regulations Coming Soon?
Now, Tesla isn’t the only automaker with electronic door handles. Some notable examples include Rivian, Ford, Lexus, and even Volvo. Loads of Chinese automakers are in on it as well, and they’re not spared from the same incidents that Tesla vehicles have encountered, either.
The fiery accidents have caught the attention of the National Highway Transport and Safety Administration (NHTSA). Back in September, NHTSA had requested Tesla to “provide a detailed list of consumer complaints and reports involving crashes, injuries, fatalities, or fires.” The company has previously said that it takes safety seriously and that its vehicles comply with federal laws, citing that the cars come with emergency door releases.
So far, there’s no word about US regulators stepping in regarding the matter. However, Europe and China have begun taking the first steps toward helping minimize EV fire fatalities by looking into it. More recently, the Chinese government has new mandates for standardized door handles, and it’s possible that other countries can follow suit.
Tesla
