"Door Handles Wouldn't Work": Tesla Driver Dies in Burning Car after Crash

[Dayaks]

The automatic door handles and lithium batteries are why this is a worse problem than an ICE car.

In a high speed crash, there are two areas where the Tesla door handles can fail (electrical/mechanical), instead of one (mechanical).


Secondly, lithium catches on fire when it is exposed to AIR - gas requires an ignition source. There is also a much greater surface area for lithium to be exposed - the batteries run underneath most of the entire body, versus just inside the rear wheels.

Despite its defenders, this would make Teslas inherently more dangerous.

And the lithium batteries have cascade failure. One starts to burn and it spreads. Like you said the gas has to spill in a large volume and ignite. Gas is also generally located towards the back of the vehicle so you need multiple unforunate things to happen to actually engulf the drivers area.

Not a super big fan of all electrics for various reasons. Cost, utility, range, ect.

 

[Lizard Testes]

The doors have mechanical releases. So it's no different than automatically locking doors on any other car if the driver is unable to open the door from the inside.

Including the rear doors on the Model 3?

What about the rear doors on the X? Isn't it hidden behind a speaker grill?

 

[nightanole]

Including the rear doors on the Model 3?

What about the rear doors on the X? Isn't it hidden behind a speaker grill?

Nope the emergency release is where a normal door opening handle would be on the front doors of the S/X/3. NO model has rear door releases. To pop a rear door, you have to remove the carpet under the seat and pull a cord. NO one is going to know how to do this in an emergency. This is a problem for owners and dealerships, because non tesla'ers (muggles?) will instinctively pull the handles to get out of the car, vs pressing the button on the hand holds. This will cause dammage to the window seals over time. As of Q4 2018 3/X/S e-releases will auto lower the windows so muggles wont kill the seals, if the car still has power.

 

[BinarySynapse]

Nope the emergency release is where a normal door opening handle would be on the front doors of the S/X/3. NO model has rear door releases. This is a problem for owners and dealerships, because non tesla'ers (muggles?) will instinctively pull the handles to get out of the car, vs pressing the button on the hand holds. This will cause dammage to the window seals over time. As of Q4 2018 3/X/S e-releases will auto lower the windows so muggles wont kill the seals, if the car still has power.

S/X have rear releases. 3 does not for some reason.

 

[nightanole]

S/X have rear releases. 3 does not for some reason.

It appears the get around gang went with "3 exterior handles are mechanical, so get out the front using the e-release, and then using the mechanical rear handle as an e-release".

So i assume some how the rear door is unlocked????? Maybe if car goes dead it unlocks, or in an accident it unlocks?

Not sure on this one, since they are locked while the car is in motion.

 

[Uvaman2]

S/X have rear releases. 3 does not for some reason.

I think its a 2 stop handle.