China bans hidden door handles in EVs

[thewayne]

GOOD! I've always thought this was a stupid idea. It probably started with Tesla, and they certainly popularized it. While it saves a few hundredths of a percent in streamlining, it is deadly. The handles are, by definition, electronic. And if your car suffers a complete loss of electric power in a severe crash, then the occupants have to engage emergency manual overrides.

Well, guess what? After a severe crash, the occupants are NOT going to be in a calm state of mind! Do you know where the manual overrides are in the back seat of some Teslas? UNDER THE FLOORMATS. The front ones can be kind of fiddly to find, and a lot of people have died while others have tried rescuing them while being unable to get the damn doors open! Including the sister in law of the former Senate Majority Leader when she accidentally backed her Tesla into a cow pond because you have to change gears on a damn touch screen?!

A friend of mine owned the first generation Tesla Roadster. He kept a five pound sledge hammer in the glove box for such a situation.

The new requirement becomes law on January 1, 2027.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp37g5nxe3lo

Comments

[kaishin108]

I cringe at the thought of being trapped in a car not being able to find the handle to open the door!

[thewayne]

I've never ridden in a Tesla and frankly don't want to.  If someone were to give me one, I'd take possession and turn around and sell it at a steep discount.

[kaishin108]

I totally agree, ick ick ick.

[armiphlage]

I use rideshares to get to and from work. Some of the drivers with Tesla vehicles have purchased carbon-fiber handles to replace the flush outer handles that need at least two hands to open (and which pinch my fingers if I'm not wearing gloves). Other drivers have taped big signs to the inner doors pointing to the tiny pushbutton that first rolls the window down a centimetre, then unlatches the door.