Respected online industry outlet, GoAuto News has reported on an issue relating to how car door electronic latches may be developing as safety issue according to regulators in Europe, China, and the United States, with concerns around access to a vehicle following a collision or fire.
Of main concern is the potential failure of an electronic door latch if the car’s electrical system becomes inoperative in a crash, potentially rendering the vehicle unopenable from outside or inside
According to the article, while a focus has been put on Tesla models in Europe and the US, most new cars have automatic central locking systems that activate as soon as the vehicle is started as an anti-carjacking measure, some with a crash activated auto-unlock
Tesla has been singled out by various regulators regarding its push-button door latches
Its cars feature easily accessible manual mechanical secondary latches on each door that are easy to operate from inside the vehicle – if the occupant is aware they exist or can work out how to use them when disoriented by the incident or where visibility is reduced by factors such as smoke, airbag detonation or submersion.
While a seemingly unopenable electronic car door could be potentially overcome by smashing a window, anti-shatter security films, aftermarket tints and scenarios in which breaking the glass is risky have prompted safety regulators in Europe to join an “expanding global effort to scrutinise electronic door latch design (popularised by Tesla) more closely
The European regulator says door safety is a ‘key priority’
The full article can be found here