The Dangers Created by Tesla’s Door Design

Bloomberg Technology

2,601 views • 1 month ago

Video Summary

Tesla's innovative design features, such as battery-powered door handles and mechanical releases, have created significant challenges during crashes and emergency situations. When a Tesla loses power, these design elements can turn a potential escape into a critical race against time. Bloomberg News investigations reveal a concerning pattern of slow regulatory action and a growing number of complaints regarding Tesla's doors, highlighting a gap in current crash testing protocols.

The core issue lies in the vehicle's dual-battery system. While the main battery powers the car, a low-voltage battery (or a 48-volt system in the Cybertruck) operates essential functions like windows, doors, and touchscreens. In the event of a power loss due to a crash or a dead low-voltage battery, doors can lock, necessitating the use of a mechanical override. Locating and operating this override can be extremely difficult, especially for first responders or individuals in distress, as illustrated by a tragic case in Virginia where hydraulic cutters were needed to open a door.

Current U.S. crash testing primarily focuses on vehicle integrity during impacts and rollovers, neglecting the crucial aspect of occupant egress. This oversight, coupled with modern automotive designs featuring electronic door handles and robust glass, complicates rescue efforts. Tesla has not publicly responded to the findings of this investigation, and regulatory agencies have also been slow to address the identified safety concerns, leaving a critical vulnerability unaddressed in the design of electric vehicles.

Short Highlights

Tesla's battery-powered door handles and mechanical releases complicate emergency egress after power loss.
Investigations reveal slow regulatory action and a growing number of complaints regarding Tesla's door mechanisms.
Current U.S. crash testing doesn't assess occupant egress or ease of access for first responders.
A crash in Virginia required hydraulic cutters to open a Tesla door due to these design complexities.
The Cybertruck's flat door design necessitates a specific mechanical release mechanism that can be challenging to access.

Key Details

Tesla's Design Complications in Crashes [00:00]

Design features on Tesla vehicles, like battery-powered door handles and mechanical releases, have complicated crashes and emergency situations.
When Teslas lose power, crashes can become "deadly races against time."
Regulators have been slow to act, and complaints about Tesla doors have accumulated.
The core issue involves the mechanical override, particularly in the rear doors of some Tesla vehicles, which is needed when the vehicle loses power in an accident.

This section introduces the central problem: Tesla's advanced design features, while innovative, create significant safety hazards during emergencies, particularly when the vehicle loses power, making escape difficult and potentially life-threatening.

"Design features on Tesla's electric vehicles, including battery powered door handles and mechanical releases, have complicated crashes and emergency situations."

Dual Battery System and Mechanical Override [00:44]

All Tesla vehicles have two batteries: one for powering the car and dictating range, and a low-voltage battery (typically 12 volts, but 48 volts in the Cybertruck).
The low-voltage battery powers elements like windows, doors, and the touchscreen.
If power is lost (due to the low-voltage battery dying or a crash), the doors lock.
Occupants must then locate and use the mechanical release to exit.
Finding this mechanical release can be "really challenging."
There have been case studies and examples where the mechanical override played a role in fatal crashes.

This segment explains the technical reason behind the door locking issue: the reliance on a low-voltage battery for essential door functions. When this battery fails, the doors become locked, and access to the crucial mechanical override is difficult, leading to dangerous situations.

"If you lose power, whether because that low voltage battery dies or you're in a crash, the doors lock and you have to get out, you have to know where the mechanical release is. And finding that mechanical release can be really challenging."

Real-World Crash Examples [01:31]

Several crashes have occurred where the mechanical override was a factor, though interviewing victims is impossible as they are deceased.
A specific crash in Virginia is detailed: a couple was involved in a severe accident, and bystanders attempting to help could not open the doors from the outside.
Rescuers had to break a window to access the interior and use hydraulic cutters to force the door open.

This section provides a poignant real-world example of the danger posed by Tesla's door design, illustrating how an inability to quickly open the doors in a crash can necessitate extreme measures and delay rescue efforts.

"Scores of people ran to their aid to try to help them and they could not open the doors from the outside. They had to break a window in order to finally reach in and use the jaw use hydraulic cutters to cut the door open."

Tesla and Regulatory Response [02:02]

Tesla has not responded to Bloomberg's reporting, despite being given an opportunity. They typically "don't engage."
Relevant regulatory agencies have also not significantly engaged with the reporting.
There is a "gap" in regulations concerning how crashes are handled.
U.S. crash testing primarily focuses on how well a vehicle performs in situations like rollovers, where Tesla has an "exemplary safety record" (five stars across categories).
However, crash testing "doesn't look at what happens to a human being after a crash" – specifically, how easy it is to exit or for first responders to enter.
More cars are featuring electric door handles and strong glass, making egress more difficult.

This part highlights the lack of accountability from Tesla and regulatory bodies. It points out that current safety standards are insufficient because they overlook the critical aspect of occupant escape post-crash, a growing problem with new vehicle designs.

"our crash testing doesn't look at what happens to a human being after a crash. How easy is it to get out of the vehicle? How easy is it for first responders to get in?"

Cybertruck Specifics and Child Safety [03:15]

The design and shape of the Cybertruck require a specific mechanism in the rear doors, away from the battery.
The doors are "very flat," leaving less room inside the door panel for electronic releases.
Child safety latches were also a significant consideration in the design.
The downside of these design choices is that it becomes "very difficult to get out."

This section delves into the particular design challenges of the Cybertruck, explaining how its flat doors and the integration of child safety latches contribute to the difficulty of egress, creating a trade-off between child security and ease of escape for all occupants.