Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

myelectricsparks.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 188 posts

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#11

Post by pininja »

rightbyte wrote: post #3
ndiddy wrote: post #2

Another similar incident happened around a week after that one: https://www.channel3000.com/news/dane-county-sheriffs-office... . One thing to note is that the car doors in Teslas are electrically controlled and a different failsafe method of opening the doors is required when the electrical system isn't working. Here's the steps for manually opening the Model Y's rear doors (car in the story the post links to): http…

* Remove the mat from the bottom of the rear door pocket. * Press the red tab to remove the access door. * Pull the mechanical release cable forward. It doesn't feel very panic friendly to have the emergency release hidden?

Every Uber I take in a Tesla would practically need an airline safety briefing for this. There’s no way I’d find it on my own.

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#13

Post by cyberax »

nemomarx wrote: post #5
ndiddy wrote: post #2

Another similar incident happened around a week after that one: https://www.channel3000.com/news/dane-county-sheriffs-office... . One thing to note is that the car doors in Teslas are electrically controlled and a different failsafe method of opening the doors is required when the electrical system isn't working. Here's the steps for manually opening the Model Y's rear doors (car in the story the post links to): http…

why are the doors electronically controlled to start with? is it cost savings?

They use frameless windows, so the electronic release slightly lowers them to avoid them scraping the door frame.

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#14

Post by dagmx »

nemomarx wrote: post #5
ndiddy wrote: post #2

Another similar incident happened around a week after that one: https://www.channel3000.com/news/dane-county-sheriffs-office... . One thing to note is that the car doors in Teslas are electrically controlled and a different failsafe method of opening the doors is required when the electrical system isn't working. Here's the steps for manually opening the Model Y's rear doors (car in the story the post links to): http…

why are the doors electronically controlled to start with? is it cost savings?

A lot of cars have electronically controlled doors.

It’s due to the frameless windows. Opening the door requires the windows to roll down slightly to avoid damage to the outer trim.

The doors still have a mechanical release so there’s no cost savings involved. For the front door they’re right next to the electronic release. For the rear doors they’re hidden under the passenger door pocket.

Edit: to everyone replying I never said it was a necessity. I explained why they did it. I’m aware of alternate approaches.

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#15

Post by dagmx »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #7

The model Y's inability to roll down its rear windows is another safety liability. I had to vomit out of an Uber and had much difficulty getting my head out the tiny opening.

Perhaps you mean “roll it down all the way”, but it most definitely can roll down most of the way.

As someone with a large head myself, I can most definitely fit it out comfortably of mine.

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#16

Post by uberdru »

crazygringo wrote: post #10

> Tesla has faced criticism in the past for the design of its manual release levers, which are considered poorly designed and unintuitively placed. These emergency measures require intimate knowledge of the car, something that may not be feasible in a panic situation. First, how is this remotely legal? Are there not safety standards to ensure adults can easily exit a vehicle on fire? Second, regardless of regulations…

Not to mention the way these things burn. Basically an inferno. . .

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#17

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

dagmx wrote: post #15
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #7

The model Y's inability to roll down its rear windows is another safety liability. I had to vomit out of an Uber and had much difficulty getting my head out the tiny opening.

Perhaps you mean “roll it down all the way”, but it most definitely can roll down most of the way. As someone with a large head myself, I can most definitely fit it out comfortably of mine.

I don't have a large head. There is zero chance of crawling out the window if you're trapped in these cars.

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#19

Post by dagmx »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #17
dagmx wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps you mean “roll it down all the way”, but it most definitely can roll down most of the way. As someone with a large head myself, I can most definitely fit it out comfortably of mine.

I don't have a large head. There is zero chance of crawling out the window if you're trapped in these cars.

That’s a different point entirely. You talked about being unable to fit your head out comfortably. I addressed that.

Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash

#20

Post by kylehotchkiss »

I’ll leave a thought that isn’t a Tesla criticism (because the others are good): everybody should carry a lifehammer in their car. If not for saving your own life, it might come in handy for saving somebody else’s.

https://www.amazon.com/Lifehammer-Brand-Safety-Hammer-Nether...

Don’t buy the cheap Chinese knockoffs.

Post reply on HN