Four People Die Trapped in Burning Tesla

[Torrid]

Seems to me the door handle on many GM products was in exactly the same spot. If you don't know about Teslas that's exactly how you will open the door - and then get yelled at.

The electric opener slightly lowers the window before releasing the door which is easier on the window and easier on the window seal.

That may be it. I couldn't remember the brand. My parents owned many GMs, particularly Chevrolets and GMCs. It was a memory I had, but I couldn't remember exactly from where. That makes a lot of sense then.

 

[PandaBear]

Teslas have a manual door handle in the arm rest; there is also one for the rear passengers, but it is a little more obscure.
One of the great things about buying a Tesla is the easy of taking delivery. Super fast, no up-selling, none of that stuff.
You are basically pointed to your car and off you go. Someone will go with you for inspection and questions, but if you don't know what to ask, how do you know what to ask? Plus, with any new car purchase, owners are generally pretty excited.

By the way, the poor knowledge transfer process is not unique to Tesla. I still don't know how to use a bunch of stuff on our Lexi, especially the RX.

Learning how your car works after an accident is a bad way to go...

I don't believe knowledge transfer should be a mandate for emergency evacuation. There is no fire drill every time you drive someone else's car.

Tesla's problem is partly from open their door the window will also open slightly. I don't know the reason for this design (to simplify window design? to seal the car? to cut some corner?) but this will be a problem if it is not a mechanical solution. I guess they assume the window motor will outlast the battery and the rest of the car?

 

[Hall]

People have been dying in car crashes for well over 100 years.

Doesn't matter here. Anything bad or tragic with Tesla or other EVs just seems to be promoted by some members here. Irony is, they're driving gas-powered vehicles, not riding in a horse and buggy.... and posting here using computers and the internet....

 

[Torrid]

I don't believe knowledge transfer should be a mandate for emergency evacuation. There is no fire drill every time you buy a new car.

Tesla's problem is to open their door the window has to slightly lower. I don't know the reason for this design (to simplify window design? to seal the car? to cut some corner?) but this will be a problem if it is not a mechanical solution. I guess they assume the window motor will outlast the battery and the rest of the car?

Door seal for a frameless window. Many cars have it.

 

[dishdude]

I think the biggest issue is the emergency release isn't labeled. They really should be labeled EMERGENCY RELEASE

 

[Torrid]

I think the biggest issue is the emergency release isn't labeled. They really should be labeled EMERGENCY RELEASE

Try finding the emergency release on the Corvette if you don't know it. It's on the floor and it doesn't exist if you haven't looked for it.

Some labeling wouldn't hurt.

 

[ecotourist]

Supposedly, there’s a hidden emergency bypass from the outside too when I was looking at Tesla’s documentation in case the 48V dies.

The concern for the Model 3 is not being able to open anything or even get at the 12V battery should the 12V battery be completely dead.

There is an external release protocol that requires a 12V battery. I bought a number of tiny 12V batteries and gave one to each of my friends who owns a Tesla. You store that tiny 12V battery inside the "release hole". That tiny 12V battery will release the front trunk lid (the hood) so you can get at the 12V battery (and charge it or replace it). I've tested the release system and it works very well.

 

[4WD]

Assume results of an investigation will be out at some point …
In the meantime - counting posts to locked …

 

[wemay]

Thanks for the pic @Torrid. Pretty intuitive, i'd say.

 

[4WD]

That may be it. I couldn't remember the brand. My parents owned many GMs, particularly Chevrolets and GMCs. It was a memory I had, but I couldn't remember exactly from where. That makes a lot of sense then.

They tend to be high/forward and intentionally away from where you tug to shut the door …

 

[JHZR2]

Tesla wants you to open the doors electrically most of the time but to pull this obscure cable disguised as not-an-exit when the electrics fail.

Movie theaters have lit exit signs. Tesla prefers the hidden bookshelf-door thing from the movie "Clue."

Dont worry, its super-intuitive to anyone.

Reality is, folks die in car crashes. For a range of reasons... and the reason per OP is still unknown, so its speculative if the manual release is to be blamed or not.

That said, I didnt know where the manual release was until @Torrid just showed it. Ive driven in quite a few teslas, and driven quite a few more. It isnt intuitive. And even if the driver knows where it is, a car of four could include riders, kids, etc. So assuming everyone to be awake, aware, and able to do something that is not intuitive is a bridge too far, IMO.

 

[Torrid]

I've never been a fan of user interfaces that behave differently only in emergencies.

It's like Toyota's (and others') ignition switch buttons that will kill the ignition if you hold them down for three seconds in drive or half a second in park.

Tesla wants you to open the doors electrically most of the time but to pull this obscure cable disguised as not-an-exit when the electrics fail.

Movie theaters have lit exit signs. Tesla prefers the hidden bookshelf-door thing from the movie "Clue."

I guess I fail to see how it is hidden when it was my natural inclination and many others for opening the door.

 

[dnewton3]

Let us not confuse correlation with causation ...

The fact that it may be more difficult to identify and use a door release in an emergency isn't unique to a Tesla. People who ride in unfamiliar cars/trucks often have trouble finding a door release if they're not used to riding in that make/model of the vehicle.

People were dying in car fires long before Tesla came along. People were having difficulty finding door handles long before Tesla came along. It may be true that a Tesla makes for a higher incidence of concern during a catastrophic accident, but there's no hard data anyone has presented so far to bolster this conversation, so it's just hyperbole and rhetoric at this point.

 

[BISCUT]

Teslas have a manual door handle in the arm rest; there is also one for the rear passengers, but it is a little more obscure.
One of the great things about buying a Tesla is the easy of taking delivery. Super fast, no up-selling, none of that stuff.
You are basically pointed to your car and off you go. Someone will go with you for inspection and questions, but if you don't know what to ask, how do you know what to ask? Plus, with any new car purchase, owners are generally pretty excited.

By the way, the poor knowledge transfer process is not unique to Tesla. I still don't know how to use a bunch of stuff on our Lexi, especially the RX.

Learning how your car works after an accident is a bad way to go...

Well said. Not a Tesla fan but this seems a little rushy rush to judgment at this point. Recent discussions had many posts dealing with the growing pains and likely to be much improved in the near future.

 

[eljefino]

Tesla's problem is partly from open their door the window will also open slightly. I don't know the reason for this design (to simplify window design? to seal the car? to cut some corner?) but this will be a problem if it is not a mechanical solution. I guess they assume the window motor will outlast the battery and the rest of the car?

Tesla is not alone in using the power window motor to crack the window, many conventional cars do this too with frameless glass.

I can see redesigning the outside door handles to improve aerodynamics or style, but then the worst thing that happens is you don't get in the car. The inside ones should all work the same or at a minimum have a RED exit graphic. Start pulling the mechanical connection and the Hal-9000 screen nags/corrects you that you'll be potentially damaging the weatherstripping trim.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I don't believe knowledge transfer should be a mandate for emergency evacuation. There is no fire drill every time you drive someone else's car.

Tesla's problem is partly from open their door the window will also open slightly. I don't know the reason for this design (to simplify window design? to seal the car? to cut some corner?) but this will be a problem if it is not a mechanical solution. I guess they assume the window motor will outlast the battery and the rest of the car?

How often do you drive someone else's car as compared to your own?
The windows slightly roll down for air resistance during close. Those of us old enough to have owned VW bugs back in the day learned this process. It makes a difference.

 

[eljefino]

Well said. Not a Tesla fan but this seems a little rushy rush to judgment at this point. Recent discussions had many posts dealing with the growing pains and likely to be much improved in the near future.

Growing pains? Companies have been building cars for 120 years. Know-it-alls who want to redo everything differently deserve to hear about it when they have blood on their hands.

 

[CourierDriver]

Oh well, Im trying to figure out why the Chevy Corvair got canceled,,,it was a witch hunt,,imho

 

[camrydriver111]

People are saying that people die in ICE car fires all the time.

Does that mean the perception of lithium battery fires being more dangerous comes only from EVs being a newly-commercialized technology?

In general it's a stupid automotive trend, but if there is an increased risk, then you want to mitigate it.

 

[Oillover]

I think the biggest issue is the emergency release isn't labeled. They really should be labeled EMERGENCY RELEASE

Totally agree, but then the next question is, "what language to use"?
Chinese, English, Arabic, Hebrew or Swahili!?

Best would be to have a touchscreen with options to choose the language for the passenger seated in each specific position.
That way they can ensure all passengers are having their individual needs addressed accordingly, in the event of an emergency.