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Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

cnn.com

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Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#91

Post by slumberlust »

_fat_santa wrote: post #22

Just to share a personal anecdote. The other day me and my wife were getting into an Uber that was a Model 3 and she said to me "I don't know how this door works, can you open it for me". Sure they are not that hard to figure out but something like door handles shouldn't be something to "figure out" at all, it should be immediately obvious how to open the vehicle. Beyond that I just dislike electronic door handles in…

You may enjoy the book The Design of Everyday Things. I no longer blame people for pushing on pull doors, but the designers who failed at the appropriate cues.

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#92

Post by dzhiurgis »

gamblor956 wrote: post #70
dgarrett wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In the rear, it's almost impossible to access the manual release in an emergency. You have to pull out a floor mat and then pop open a panel that requires a metal tool to extract, and then reach blindly into a hole to pull the release. And this process damages the car, so you can't really practice in a non-emergency. Just so you know, this is improved the latest (2023+) Model 3. There is now an easily removable pan…

On every other car, you can open the rear door by just using the door handle. No need to remove a panel so you can pull a yellow cable to release a latch so you can open the door.

Can it drive itself?

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#93

Post by dzhiurgis »

ashton314 wrote: post #36
dgarrett wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In the rear, it's almost impossible to access the manual release in an emergency. You have to pull out a floor mat and then pop open a panel that requires a metal tool to extract, and then reach blindly into a hole to pull the release. And this process damages the car, so you can't really practice in a non-emergency. Just so you know, this is improved the latest (2023+) Model 3. There is now an easily removable pan…

Well, they put a sign on the trash can that says “this is in fact on fire” so you know that they’re aware it’s a dumpster fire.

There’s 5 to 10 unique things about Tesla, esp at that price point. But yes let’s focus on door handles and how they behave in an edge case of an edge case.

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#94

Post by ponector »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #93
ashton314 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, they put a sign on the trash can that says “this is in fact on fire” so you know that they’re aware it’s a dumpster fire.

There’s 5 to 10 unique things about Tesla, esp at that price point. But yes let’s focus on door handles and how they behave in an edge case of an edge case.

Right, you don't need doors to be easy to open in case of emergency. Because you are a good man, emergency never occurs to you.

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#95

Post by ponector »

MisterTea wrote: post #12

> The Bloomberg investigation found numerous instances of passengers who were killed or severely burned by post-crash fires when rescuers on the scene were unable to open the doors. Have any of these incidents result in major law suits? Seems pretty likely they would and should sue. Honeslt yI hate modern automotive designs. My one wish for the Chinese EV makers was that one of them just makes a friggin normal car th…

My 2024 car is reliable, comfortable, nice to drive. With big doorhandles, easy to open and no instructions to passengers required.

If any, Chinese cars are usually loaded with bells and whistles to the top.

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#96

Post by keeda »

When my friend drove me to pick up my new Model 3, we made sure to find and test the alternative release mechanisms. The worst part is that the company and the car itself warns against using that in non-emergencies because it can damage the window trim. So basically you are strongly advised against trying out a critical safety feature because of poor design.

But we did it anyway, because a) I believe the engineering philosophy "if it's not tested it doesn't work," is especially pertinent for safety critical systems; and b) my friend told me of a couple of youths who had died just a couple days earlier in a burning Tesla because the electronics shut down and they could not figure out the alternate release mechanism.

Then he said, "Welp, enjoy your new car!" and drove away in his Tesla.

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#97

Post by dreamcompiler »

_fat_santa wrote: post #22

Just to share a personal anecdote. The other day me and my wife were getting into an Uber that was a Model 3 and she said to me "I don't know how this door works, can you open it for me". Sure they are not that hard to figure out but something like door handles shouldn't be something to "figure out" at all, it should be immediately obvious how to open the vehicle. Beyond that I just dislike electronic door handles in…

> electronic handle puts less wear on the car as it can accurately actuate the door release and do it better than a human

More important is lessening wind resistance and noise. Tesla windows seal tightly against the moulding and they need to be lowered about a centimeter before opening or closing the door. The electronic latches do this automatically.

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#98

Post by dzhiurgis »

ponector wrote: post #94
dzhiurgis wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s 5 to 10 unique things about Tesla, esp at that price point. But yes let’s focus on door handles and how they behave in an edge case of an edge case.

Right, you don't need doors to be easy to open in case of emergency. Because you are a good man, emergency never occurs to you.

Once again - edge case of an edge case. Emergency openings are there, but not perfect. Next.

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#99

Post by kennywinker »

jp191919 wrote: post #52
mediaman wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The funny thing is that Elon has been very critical of regulation in car design, such as the rules around the side-view mirrors (he wanted to get rid of them and replace with cameras). But then they find something unregulated and manage to flub it so badly it makes a strong case for regulation. I'm not sure if Elon was involved in these door handles on the interior, though I do recall he was very involved in the earl…

Many countries (EU, Japan) allow cameras instead of side mirrors, but not the US.

But are they a good idea?

Many countries allow these dumb door handles…

Re: Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

#100

Post by Grazester »

mrguyorama wrote: post #71
Grazester wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nissan GT-R manual flush handles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK0MxfPE4N0&pp=ygUWbmlzc2FuI...

Honestly that's just as stupid. It would have similar problems in Winter, very little benefit, and has the same "How do you do it" problem

It however has no problem in the winter.
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