Trapped Inside: Global Attention on Electric Door Handles Following Fatal EV Accidents | Carscoops

      Recent tragic EV accidents underscore the hazards of flush door handles as China deliberates a comprehensive ban.

      These accidents demonstrate how loss of power and electric handles can trap passengers in vehicles that are on fire.

      Even cars that appear unharmed can pose dangers to occupants when electrical systems fail unexpectedly.

      Similar designs from various manufacturers also raise alarm as China considers enforcing a ban.

      When firefighter Max Walsh noticed smoke rising in the distance, he anticipated he was rushing toward yet another vehicle fire. As a firefighter, he had encountered many, but this time he was heading into a dire situation. The Tesla Model Y engulfed in flames after a collision didn’t have any visible damage to its door latch, yet it refused to open. The dead electrical system meant that even the conscious passenger in the front seat couldn't unlock the doors.

      The peculiarities of Tesla’s flush handles and the associated risks when they malfunction have been thoroughly explored by Bloomberg journalist Dana Hull, who has reported extensively on how this design can become dangerous during a power failure.

      While Tesla didn’t invent flush, power-operated door handles, it certainly played a significant role in making them mainstream. EV manufacturers often argue that these handles enhance aesthetics and reduce drag, and similar designs have emerged across the market, including in the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the latest Nissan Leaf, and the Kia EV6. However, the issue arises when the low-voltage battery dies, whether from a crash, fire, or another cause, rendering the electric door mechanisms inoperative.

      Carscoops has shared numerous instances of this problem across various brands. When power is lost in a vehicle, passengers, owners, and sometimes rescuers find themselves frantically trying to open the doors. In several collisions, including a fatal Cybertruck fire in California and a Model S blaze in Wisconsin, reports indicate that victims were unable to escape. Importantly, this problem isn’t exclusive to Tesla.

      This Is Not Just a Tesla Issue

      Ford recently issued a recall for the Mustang Mach-E due to handle-related issues, and we have documented numerous cases where owners have been locked out, or in some instances locked in, due to dead batteries. Fisker encountered a similar problem with the Ocean prior to its closure. One woman in a Rivian R1S had to call 911 and was stuck in her SUV for 45 minutes after it became inoperative on the roadside while smoke entered the cabin. This issue is not new and has been known for over a decade.

      In 2015, 72-year-old James Rogers and his dog, Leia, both perished in a Chevrolet Corvette. Reports from that time indicated it was Rogers’ dream car. Once again, the battery failed. Rescuers who discovered Rogers and Leia tried to get inside but were unable. When they finally gained access, both had succumbed to the heat within the car. Tragically, Rogers apparently didn’t realize that the manual release for the door handle was only inches away.

      Manual Releases Could Be a Viable Solution

      In many situations involving coherent occupants, the reality is that, much like with Mr. Rogers, safety is often just a manual door handle pull away. However, significant challenges remain. Firstly, many people are unaware of the location of the manual door release or how to use it. Additionally, there’s the concern of what happens when an occupant is incapacitated, like in the case when Walsh responded to the burning Model Y.

      The front passenger, Susmita Maddi, was trapped by the deployed airbags. “It’s the most horrible thing, to see a human burning,” Walsh told Bloomberg. “If I had been able to open the doors, I could have rescued them both before the fire department arrived.” Maddi survived but not without enduring life-altering injuries. She inhaled fumes that caused permanent lung damage and suffered third-degree burns to her face.

      “Sometimes it’s very disheartening to look at my face,” she states. “Who is this? I wouldn’t recognize myself. Is this what I’ve become? It took many months and countless nights of crying to reach this point.” She is suing Tesla, arguing that the doors present an unreasonable safety hazard. “Buying a Tesla was the worst decision of our lives,” Maddi asserts.

      A Call for Change

      Currently, reports indicate that China is contemplating a ban on flush door handles, asserting that they are unsafe. The country may soon require automakers to incorporate at least partially exposed external handles and manual releases inside the vehicle. While this may not be a flawless solution, it could impact vehicles globally as numerous manufacturers view China as one of their largest potential markets.

      QOTD: Should Governments Require Turn Signal Stalks and User-Friendly Manual Door Handles?

      Design can indeed be deadly, as is evident in this scenario. While mechanical door latches can fail, electric ones introduce additional complexity at critical moments. It remains to be seen if China’s proposed intervention will materialize. For now, anyone with electric door poppers