If there was one thing that two of the world’s greatest geniuses, Mies van der Rohe and Steve Jobs, had in common, it was a maxim in the world of design: “Form follows function.” This motto, so well known in all engineering schools, seems to have gone in one ear and out the other for Tesla’s designers. Now, the NHTSA has them in its sights. The electronic door handles on the Model Y may be beautiful, but they can also be a death trap in the event of an accident.
Trapped in the world’s best-selling electric car
Those of us who have ever been trapped in an elevator know how distressing and frustrating the situation can become. Something similar could happen to the occupants of some 174,290 units of the well-known Tesla Model Y. What was the world’s best-selling car in 2023 seems to have problems with its electronic door handles. A problem with its low-voltage battery, i.e., the 12-volt battery, not the one that powers the car, can leave its occupants locked in the cabin.
Is this a major safety issue? Absolutely. According to the US regulator, not being able to open the door from outside the vehicle greatly hinders the rapid and effective rescue of vehicle occupants in the event of an accident or emergency.
In its defense, Elon Musk’s car brand says its vehicles have an alternative method of opening the doors. A kind of mechanical handle that can be found inside the car. However, the NHTSA warns that this method is not an alternative to the traditional handle. Most occupants will not know how to locate this mechanism during an emergency, especially after an accident or in the presence of flames. In addition, they place special emphasis on children, who will be completely unable to react intuitively in such a scenario.
What is the problem with Tesla’s handles?
The more complex a vehicle is, the more likely you are to encounter a malfunction in the short term. Simplicity is undoubtedly the secret that has made brands such as Toyota great. However, not all manufacturers think like the Japanese. Tesla, which wants to stand out as a technology company, has opted for a strategy of filling its vehicles with electronics. But the pursuit of aesthetics and comfort has its downside.
Unlike most manufacturers, who use mechanical door handles in their cars, Tesla uses electronic parts. It is actually an aesthetic and very attractive decision, although they say they implemented it to improve the aerodynamics of their cars. Yes, to improve the aerodynamics of the Model Y, that 2-ton SUV.
Tesla’s handle design has been the subject of much debate since day one. To work, they use a 12-volt battery located in the car’s compartment. It sounds pretty normal… until you realise the implications of a possible accident that leaves the circuit fried.
This component is exactly identical to gasoline vehicles. However, electric car owners rarely maintain or check the condition of this component (or any other in the vehicle, tyres included). That’s when this problem arises. If the battery voltage drops due to wear and tear, the Model Y’s doors cannot be opened from the outside.
For the NHTSA, this is not a minor issue. If the car catches fire, or if we are involved in a complex accident, whether or not we can open the door can be the difference between getting out alive or dying an agonizing death. To make matters worse, the NHTSA has not ruled out extending the investigation to other vehicles from the American brand. In short, this is yet another bump in the road for a company that is not at its best and is facing other NHTSA investigations related to autonomous driving and assisted parking.