Tesla proposes modifying tower components due to encountered issues
Tesla Modifies Door Design in Response to Safety Concerns
In a move aimed at enhancing safety in emergency situations, Tesla has announced plans to modify the doors of its electric vehicles. The changes come in response to an investigation launched by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into door lock problems on the Model Y compact SUV from the 2021 model year.
Currently, several million-selling Tesla models feature flush exterior door handles and an interior button for opening. The investigation, however, is not related to the modification of doors to open more easily in emergency situations. Instead, it focuses on issues with the door locks not receiving power, as preliminary findings by the NHTSA suggest.
Under normal circumstances, Tesla's doors open electrically. However, in the event of a power failure, such as in an accident, occupants must find and use mechanical door openers like levers or cords. In some cases, this has proven challenging, with helpers at several accidents involving vehicle fires reporting difficulties reaching occupants due to the location of the mechanical door openers.
To address these concerns, Tesla plans to update the software controlling the door locking mechanism and improve quality control processes. The modification involves combining electronic and mechanical locking technology in one button, a move that Tesla's chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, has stated "makes a lot of sense."
The new design aims to allow doors to be opened more intuitively by occupants in panic situations. To open the doors from the outside, 12-volt power from an external source needs to be connected to two specific points, as emphasized by the NHTSA.
It's important to note that Teslas have a separate power circuit with their own battery for windows, doors, and the touchscreen. This ensures that even in the event of a power failure, occupants can still access essential functions.
The investigation does not mention any issues with the combination of electronic and mechanical locking technology in one button, as previously mentioned. Neither does it discuss any difficulties helpers at accidents have had in reaching occupants due to the location of the mechanical door openers.
In the investigation, four of the nine cases involved parents exiting the vehicle but being unable to open the doors to retrieve children from the rear seat. In these situations, the parents had to break the windows. Tesla's modification aims to prevent such incidents in the future.
Tesla has not disclosed a timeline for when the changes will be rolled out, but the company has committed to addressing safety concerns and regulatory investigations regarding their electric vehicles' doors in the USA.
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