Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 5
https://www.autoblog.com/news/china-is-banning-tes...Premium automakers, especially those deep in the EV space, have developed a notable affection for retractable door handles, famously found on all Tesla models. They look clean, reduce drag, and fit the futuristic image many electric cars aim for. But while the design wins style points, safety concerns have piled up. China has now drawn a line in the sand. From January 1, 2027, retractable EV door handles will no longer be allowed on new vehicles sold in the country. Regulators argue that electric-only mechanisms can trap occupants during collisions or power loss, turning something as basic as opening a door into a life-or-death challenge.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently released draft rules requiring all vehicles under 3.5 tons to have both interior and exterior handles with a mechanical emergency release. The idea behind it is straightforward. If a crash disables the battery or wiring, doors must still open manually. Many EVs already include mechanical releases inside the cabin, but owners often struggle to find them or difficult to operate under pressure – sometimes they don’t work at all. Cold-weather failures, delayed deployment, and pinched fingers have also fueled frustration. This conversation isn’t limited to China either. Earlier this month, a Rivian owner publicly called for more obvious emergency exit handles after struggling to locate them during a power failure.
OK - this makes sense to me, but I wonder how long it would take other countries to follow.
Jeff
No. of Recommendations: 2
I don't even like power window. Would rather have a fail-safe old-fashioned crank.
Wendy
No. of Recommendations: 2
I don't even like power window. Would rather have a fail-safe old-fashioned crank.
I love my power windows, but I do have a fail safe window smasher in the center compartment in case of emergency. Particularly with small kids, power windows and driver controlled window locks are priceless in a car. Fantastic too, when driving alone and needing to open a rear window a bit to equalize the pressure from having the driver's window down.
One of the reasons we bought a used vehicle in 2016 was because we did not like the key-less fob used to start the car and enter it. The electric car entry fobs on our vehicles have been dead for years, but our keys work just fine.
IP
No. of Recommendations: 5
OK - this makes sense to me, but I wonder how long it would take other countries to follow.
No time at all. The EU decreed that all phomes (and similar size electronic devices) had to use the USB-C charging plug, and everybody - even Apple which had it’s own proprietary plug/socket - fell in line almost overnight. (I have at least a dozen USB-A plugs which connect to a dozen different types of plugs on the other end. It’s a mess, and a joke.)
You can’t ignored a market the size of the EU (or China, even if you’re not currently importing there) so I expect this will happen as soon as they can retool for the next production model.
For the record, my Ioniq6 has recessed and ‘air-streamed’ handles: mechanical on both inside and outside, but are also solenoid operated for locking & unlocking if desired. It’s not hard to do. Tesla will just have to get over itself.
No. of Recommendations: 2
One of the reasons we bought a used vehicle in 2016 was because we did not like the key-less fob used to start the car and enter it. The electric car entry fobs on our vehicles have been dead for years, but our keys work just fine
Have you tried replacing the battery in the fob?
They generally take typical coin-shaped batteries.
My 2 Fords are keyless entry/start.
Should the battery die, the fobs for each vehicle have an internally-stored physical key to open the door.
Then you place the fob in a special location so that the car can read it (like an rfid chip?) and allow you to drive it.
Whenever I've had a battery go out on me I've always had plenty of warning as it's performance becomes inconsistent or I have to be closer to the car before it will work.
As soon as I notice that happening I switch to the spare fob and order new batteries for each.
Now that I think about it I've only had to do that once and those batteries had already lasted 10 years.
I guess I'm more comfortable with this technology. I follow several automotive forums and I don't think I've ever seen this come up as an issue.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Have you tried replacing the battery in the fob?
They generally take typical coin-shaped batteries.
Can't even figure out how to open the fob. Not sure it's possible. Even OCD DH can't figure it out, and boy did he try. AI says this, though: Older Models: Use a small flathead screwdriver or a thin object to pry open the case at the designated notch along the seam. Guess we can try that. Not such a big deal to use the key with the Sienna, which has a key lock on both front doors, but the 2013 Camry only has a keylock on the driver's door. Clearly it has not been a pressing issue for us. The one thing I have missed is the ability to make the car make noise at the click of a button, when we don't remember exactly where it is in the parking lot, and it is nice to pop the trunk when approaching the car with groceries in hand, but yeah, not a pressing issue.
IP
No. of Recommendations: 3
I have an EV with this type of handle (no, not a Tesla...never will, inferior engineering/safety).
I kind of don't like it, being an old dude who had cars with big chrome handles with key slots in them and who retains a fondness for that aesthetic. What I do like is that it is visually obvious when it is locked, and that's good for me as a driver, and it is also a bit of a deterrent as that slick, flush handle doesn't give a car jacker a place for their hand to get purchase.
No. of Recommendations: 1
"I have an EV with this type of handle (no, not a Tesla...never will, inferior engineering/safety).
I kind of don't like it, being an old dude who had cars with big chrome handles with key slots in them and who retains a fondness for that aesthetic. What I do like is that it is visually obvious when it is locked, and that's good for me as a driver, and it is also a bit of a deterrent as that slick, flush handle doesn't give a car jacker a place for their hand to get purchase.
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Earlier this month, a Rivian owner publicly called for more obvious emergency exit handles after struggling to locate them during a power failure."
Agree. And the quote above had me check my 2022 Rivian R1T: it indeed has physically-cabled mechanical interior handles for egress on all four doors.
One of the many things I like about Rivian is their willingness/ability to make changes mid-year, as well as to play catch-up when necessary (such as free adapters to all Gen 1 owners so they could take advantage of Tesla superchargers on the interstate once that deal was made).
--sutton
No. of Recommendations: 0
Premium automakers, especially those deep in the EV space, have developed a notable affection for retractable door handles, famously found on all Tesla models.
This is not correct! Only one of Teslas models has retractable door handles.
The Tesla model S has retractable door handles.
The Tesla model 3 and model Y have "flip" door handles, they remain flush with the car while driving, but they are manually flipped with one side flipping in and the other flipping out such that you can grab the flipped out portion with your hand.
The Tesla model X and the Cybertruck have no door handles at all, the doors open electronically and are then grabbed by any door edge to pull out further when necessary.
