Most active commenters
  • eptcyka(3)

←back to thread

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

(myelectricsparks.com)
210 points json_bourne_ | 29 comments | 16 Nov 24 19:03 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
Show context
ndiddy ◴[16 Nov 24 19:25 UTC] No.42158554[source]▶
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): https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-AAD769C... and here's the steps for manually opening the Model S's rear doors (car in the story I linked to): https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/models/en_us/GUID-AAD769C... . Note that this involves removing the rear carpet in the Model S and the door pocket mat in the Model Y, and that the Model Y instructions note that some cars aren't even equipped with manual rear door releases. It seems like Tesla didn't account at all for what happens if passengers who aren't familiar with the car need to quickly exit in an emergency, especially if the driver's incapacitated and can't give them directions.

replies(11): >>42158636 #>>42158643 #>>42158647 #>>42158773 #>>42158779 #>>42158811 #>>42158867 #>>42159003 #>>42159246 #>>42159730 #>>42162066 #
1. nemomarx ◴[16 Nov 24 19:39 UTC] No.42158647[source]▶
why are the doors electronically controlled to start with? is it cost savings?
replies(6): >>42158674 #>>42158689 #>>42158699 #>>42158860 #>>42159267 #>>42160580 #
2. eptcyka ◴[16 Nov 24 19:43 UTC] No.42158674[source]▶
It is more cyber that way. Also, yes, electromechanical systems are easier to design.
replies(1): >>42158780 #
3. cyberax ◴[16 Nov 24 19:45 UTC] No.42158689[source]▶
They use frameless windows, so the electronic release slightly lowers them to avoid them scraping the door frame.
replies(5): >>42158761 #>>42158801 #>>42159286 #>>42159335 #>>42159386 #
4. dagmx ◴[16 Nov 24 19:46 UTC] No.42158699[source]▶
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.

replies(3): >>42158790 #>>42158904 #>>42158955 #
5. PittleyDunkin ◴[16 Nov 24 19:53 UTC] No.42158761[source]▶
Why do they want frameless windows?
replies(2): >>42158772 #>>42158778 #
6. dagmx ◴[16 Nov 24 19:55 UTC] No.42158772{3}[source]▶
Frameless windows are aesthetically pleasing to many people. Tesla aren’t alone in that preference, they are just one of the few brands that use frameless by default even on the lowest end vehicles they sell, so there’s a higher number out there.
replies(1): >>42158957 #
7. throwuxiytayq ◴[16 Nov 24 19:56 UTC] No.42158778{3}[source]▶
Why do they want glued-on RAM and SSDs?
8. stouset ◴[16 Nov 24 19:56 UTC] No.42158780[source]▶
There’s still a second mechanical release so this is strictly more complicated than simply having a mechanical system to begin with.
replies(1): >>42158809 #
9. bahmboo ◴[16 Nov 24 19:58 UTC] No.42158790[source]▶
Not necessarily. Many cars have manual doors and frameless windows. A 1996 Subaru comes to mind. Tesla could easily make the windows dip when a mechanical handle was activated.

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.

10. OptionOfT ◴[16 Nov 24 19:59 UTC] No.42158801[source]▶
In 2008 I had a BMW Convertible with frameless doors. When you pulled the door handle the window dropped. Same from the inside.
replies(1): >>42159109 #
11. eptcyka ◴[16 Nov 24 20:00 UTC] No.42158809{3}[source]▶
Routing the mechanical linkage to a place in the door that would make sense for a door handle to be is the difficult and expensive part.
replies(1): >>42158875 #
12. dvdbloc ◴[16 Nov 24 20:08 UTC] No.42158860[source]▶
I always thought it was a luxury item like soft close doors on high end luxury cars. Supposed to feel premium compared to actually pulling a mechanical handle.
13. davrosthedalek ◴[16 Nov 24 20:10 UTC] No.42158875{4}[source]▶
Bowden cables are dirt cheap.
replies(1): >>42158925 #
14. tirant ◴[16 Nov 24 20:13 UTC] No.42158904[source]▶
Most current BMWs with frameless windows still have mechanical door openings (e.g. BMW i4).
replies(1): >>42158970 #
15. eptcyka ◴[16 Nov 24 20:15 UTC] No.42158925{5}[source]▶
The cables are cheap, designing a door latch system to be easy to install/cheap to manufacture is not. Why do you think all parking brakes on all ICE vehicles have turned electric now?
replies(1): >>42159184 #
16. xbar ◴[16 Nov 24 20:18 UTC] No.42158955[source]▶
This is a design choice, not a requirement.

My frameless-windows 2007 car uses a mechanical door latch and the window rolls down slightly as I pull the latch.

replies(1): >>42159164 #
17. onetokeoverthe ◴[16 Nov 24 20:18 UTC] No.42158957{4}[source]▶
at the funeral...

"at least they had pleasing windows."

18. badgersnake ◴[16 Nov 24 20:19 UTC] No.42158970{3}[source]▶
Indeed, my 2001 E46 BMW had this. It’s not complicated or new.
replies(1): >>42162685 #
19. neuralRiot ◴[16 Nov 24 20:38 UTC] No.42159109{3}[source]▶
Every car with frameless windows does this without the need for a death-trap electric door release, i work in McLarens and the windows will drop if the battery gets low so you can open the vertical doors with a dead battery.
20. hughesjj ◴[16 Nov 24 20:46 UTC] No.42159164{3}[source]▶
Also every convertible ever
21. newaccount74 ◴[16 Nov 24 20:48 UTC] No.42159184{6}[source]▶
Probably because forgetting to pull the handbrake is a very common cause of accidents?
22. DrillShopper ◴[16 Nov 24 20:58 UTC] No.42159267[source]▶
To make the marks they're selling the death sedans to feel like they have something special until the vape batteries under the car spontaneously combust and roast them like a gas station hotdog
23. ◴[16 Nov 24 21:00 UTC] No.42159286[source]▶
24. lttlrck ◴[16 Nov 24 21:07 UTC] No.42159335[source]▶
Dropping the windows on frameless doors goes back to at least the 90s and mechanical door handles.

I wouldn't be surprised if it goes back even earlier and someone even tried it entirely mechanically without electric windows...

Update: it looks like it was first done on 1946 Buick convertibles.

25. yibg ◴[16 Nov 24 21:12 UTC] No.42159386[source]▶
There were plenty of older frameless doors where the door itself opens mechanically and the window lowers slightly. A lot of the older subarus for example.

What's special about Tesla (or any of the other newer cars with full electrical door opening mechanisms) that makes this not an option?

replies(2): >>42159458 #>>42163497 #
26. cyberax ◴[16 Nov 24 21:20 UTC] No.42159458{3}[source]▶
> What's special about Tesla (or any of the other newer cars with full electrical door opening mechanisms) that makes this not an option?

Cost-cutting, mostly.

27. rad_gruchalski ◴[16 Nov 24 23:42 UTC] No.42160580[source]▶
How are you otherwise going to close the door with a button on that ipad in the middle?
28. soramimo ◴[17 Nov 24 07:55 UTC] No.42162685{4}[source]▶
I still have over one these and can confirm the doors open with the battery disconnected.
29. Citizen_Lame ◴[17 Nov 24 11:20 UTC] No.42163497{3}[source]▶
It's impossible cannot be done. They tried nothing and were out of ideas.