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…
Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
31–40 of 188 posts
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
why are the doors electronically controlled to start with? is it cost savings?
It is more cyber that way. Also, yes, electromechanical systems are easier to design.
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
Electronic door latches are fine, it’s the backup mechanism that is the problem. Some cars have the mechanical alternate forward of the electrical release such that if you are grabbing frantically you would eventually pull it. This still looks minimal if that is more important than safety.
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#34> 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…
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#35I’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.
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
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
#37I’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.
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is more cyber that way. Also, yes, electromechanical systems are easier to design.
There’s still a second mechanical release so this is strictly more complicated than simply having a mechanical system to begin with.
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#39Another 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…
Tesla might not have, but you can. Always have a glass breaker and seatbelt cutter in your vehicle. Doors get crumpled and can't open regardless of make/model.
Re: Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash
#40Is that an electronic counter (likely) or mechanical? If the latter, no big deal, if the former it’s even worse than the Tesla - at least my MY has a separate mechanical over ride.