Tesla aims to modify the tower component due to encountered issues
In a bid to address criticisms and ongoing regulatory investigations, Tesla is working on improving door opening mechanisms in emergency situations for its electric vehicles. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into door lock issues with Tesla's Model Y compact SUV from the 2021 model year.
The investigation centres around situations where parents have exited the vehicle upon arrival at their destination but were unable to open the doors to retrieve children from the back seat. Preliminary findings suggest that the door locks failed to receive power in nine cases, four of which required parents to break the windows to retrieve the children due to failed door locks.
Under normal circumstances, doors are opened electrically in Tesla vehicles. However, the investigation does not involve earlier mentioned improvements to door opening in emergency situations for Tesla's electric vehicles, such as the introduction of a single button that allows panicked occupants to open doors more easily.
Tesla's chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, stated that the doors will be opened more intuitively by combining electronic and mechanical locking mechanisms into a single button. The location of these mechanical door openers varies by model and can be hidden behind door panels or under seats.
The new design aims to make it easier for occupants and rescue workers to open the doors in emergency situations. In the event of a power failure, such as in an accident, occupants must locate and use mechanical door openers like levers or cords. Rescue workers have reported difficulties reaching occupants in burned vehicles due to the location of these mechanical door openers.
Tesla is yet to mention any efforts to improve the accessibility of these mechanical door openers in emergency situations. The company has been using hidden external door handles and an internal button to open doors for several million-selling models.
It is worth noting that the investigation does not discuss the ease of door opening for panicked occupants in emergency situations. The investigation also does not involve improvements to door opening in emergency situations for Tesla's electric vehicles that do not require a 12-volt power source to be connected to two specific points, as per the user manual, to open the doors from the outside in such cases.
The Tesla Model Y uses a separate power circuit with its own battery for windows, doors, and the touchscreen. This separate power circuit is intended to ensure the functionality of these systems even in the event of a main battery failure. Despite this, the investigation has highlighted the need for improved door opening mechanisms in emergency situations.
As Tesla continues to work on improving the accessibility of these mechanical door openers in emergency situations, it remains to be seen how the company will address these concerns and ensure the safety of its occupants in critical situations.
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