Arizona toddler rescued after getting trapped in a Tesla with a dead battery

Autoevolution ^ | 6/20/2024 | Cristian Agatie

[T.B. Yoits]

There's a new trend in the automotive industry to replace physical parts with electrically-actuated systems. The most obvious example is the electrical door release system. All Teslas have such a system, which ensures that the frameless windows are lowered before the door opens. However, when the 12-volt battery dies, the same systems can pose a significant danger, especially when people must quickly evacuate the vehicle.

Tesla offers a backup emergency release that works without power, but many owners are unaware of how to use it. Sometimes, the release string is hidden behind the door panel and is not always easy to reach in an emergency. This has caused problems more than once when the car's low-voltage (12-volt) battery died.

When the low-voltage battery approaches the end of its lifecycle, the car is expected to warn drivers to schedule a service center appointment. Sometimes, the battery just dies without warning. When this happens, the vehicle's auxiliary systems remain without power, even though the high-voltage battery has enough charge.

A Scottsdale grandmother learned this the hard way on Wednesday as she loaded her 20-month-old granddaughter into her car seat. She closed the rear door and went to get in the driver's seat, but she couldn't open the door. The 12-volt battery was dead, and she was locked outside. She had no option but to call 911.

Intriguingly, the firefighters didn't know that you could "jumpstart" a Tesla with an external battery that allows you to open the doors. Instead, they used an axe to break a window.

Other brands provide a physical key hidden in the key fob that can be used to manually open the door. However, Tesla only relies on a system that is unknown to most owners and first responders.

[roadcat]

Just a dumb design by Tesla and it will cause lives to be lost, if not already the case.

I have a Leaf EV, no problems for the last 5 years I owned it. If the 12-volt battery is getting low on charge, indicator lights show on the dash that the large battery pack stepped in and is recharging the small battery. I can't understand why Tesla wouldn't include such a feature. I mean, I can see the large indicator lights from outside on my Leaf. Anyway, I always carry a glass breaker / seatbelt cutter on my key fob (just in case). On my cars I also have key locks on the doors, and a manual key within my key fob, should be standard items on all cars with electric windows.

[BobL]

“It’s a stupid design. Failing to read the article is even stupider.”

No kidding. Having a HUGE BATTERY and not being able to access it. Damn lucky the kid wasn’t killed.

[adorno]

When EV’s get cheaper, go farther, charge faster, etc. we will likely buy one.

Cheaper? Maybe.

The other 'features'? Not in my lifetime and not in your lifetime and not for a few more generations, and perhaps never. The range anxiety for EVs have been there for more than 20, and no real improvements have come along. Charging faster, perhaps, but, full charge at reasonable time, is also something promised but not much better than 20 years ago.

Meanwhile, I can 'charge' my ICE vehicle in 5 minutes or less and go about 400=500 miles (depending on driving conditions). Why even bother with EVs then? And the prices of ICE vehicles are much less than comparably equipped EVs. So, again, why bother when you can get something much more worthy at a much lower price, with no range anxiety and that 'charges' in a fraction of the time it takes EVs.