Posted on 06/23/2024 7:36:45 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at autoevolution.com ...
Tesla cars are not the only modern car that have no mechanical linkage to the door. Even if you had a keyhole, that is connected to a electrical device to unlock the door and will not work if the battery dies. I learned that from Scotty Kilmer on Youtube.
“No, this is a huge issue. A child strapped into a car seat isn’t going to operate the emergency release inside the cab.”
A child strapped in a car seat is not operating any door mechanism power or not how is it supposed to get out of the car seat. Here in Texas we have a couple of times a year a moron parent or caregiver leave a child strapped in a locked hot car here again the kid cannot free themselves to open a door regardless. The outcome is the same window broken by EMS, cops or recently legalized any bystanders who see the child. No need to ask the cops of it’s ok in Texas if you see a child in a locked vehicle you can break the glass to get them out at will then call 911 to report the child abuse.
Tesla does need to have at least one manual key hole. My S60 has one hidden under the door handle and the hardkey is inside the fob you have to pry it out both the key and the panel over the keyhole. It’s a simple engineering fix. Even simpler is have the computer monitor the 12v side and if it drops to 10v or lower turn on the DC to DC converter and push current to that side. This kinda software update can be pushed over the air to all models via the 4/5G modem.
“Safety is paid for with the blood of those who came before.”
This story is more of those who refuse to learn history are doomed to repeat it.
We have lots of knowledge parasites, people without an education who do a job they really are not fully qualified to perform.
From the inside this is a non-issue
Yeah, well, Grandma wasn’t on the inside...
My Volvo also doesn’t have physical locks except for one emergency keyhole under the drivers door handle behind a hidden plastic plate there are no other keyhole on the car. The key for it is this.tiny sliver of a key jammed into the fob you need a small screwdriver to get out or strong finger nails. The car also won’t pushbutton start if the keyfob battery is dead there is no mechanical start turn key it’s only push button start. People who know this carry extra 2032 cells in the glove box or back pack else you have to get an uber to a store for a lithium cell. Conversely if you leave your fob at home or inside a Tesla your phone app will open the doors and start the Tesla as your app is also a digital key. This happens to one of my lawyer’s who is also a good friend he managed to lock his key fob and cell phone inside his Model S and was about to break the glass I got a good laugh then handed him my phone and said login to your Tesla account with my app and open your doors homie. So modern tech has its advantages too. Has he locked his keys and phone in a older car he would have to call a locksmith or break the glass. I never carry my fob when I use the Model 3 I have two phones and one will always have charge in it enough to open the door and set it on the wireless charging station which is also the keyless read point.
Gramma is a moron for putting a kid in a car then closing all the doors. That is parenting 101 you close the door next to the kid last right before you get into your open drivers side door. This way it’s impossible to ever accidentally lock your kid inside a car which happens a lot when people leave there keys on the seat and either press the lock button on the door or some cars antilock after 60 to 90 seconds with all doors closed. When you go to carseat DOT class they teach this very rule to every parent never EVER close the doors to the car until you are physically sitting in the drivers seat and reach out to close the door from the inside after your child is secure in their car seat.
My Volvo won’t let your lock the doors if the fob is inside the car anywhere, but it does autolock at 60 seconds all doors closed if the fob is not inside. My KIA did the same thing autolock at 90 seconds all doors closed it didn’t have the fob sensor so that car absolutely would lock you out if your keys were on the seat and you closed your driver door for more than 90 seconds. The outcome is the same broken window.
Tesla could with a software patch have the computer monitor the 12V voltage and if below 10.2V turn on the DC to DC converter from the giant battery pack and send just
Enough amps to keep the access circuitry power up. That is all programmable in software have the computer go to low power sleep mode with only the access radio on and the locks powered cut every other relay off. A 50kwh model 3 pack would last for a month if it only had to supply 4 amps at 12V set a low point on the main pack of 10% to give up on the DC to DC converter link so as to save 40 miles or so of range to get to a charge point in a double emergency. This software flash could be sent via the OTA link every Tesla has. Why it’s not already programmed to do this is a better question.
Batteries can and do die suddenly without warning. They come with warranties for just that reason.
Don't all Tesla owners carry batteries with them just in case this happens?
The unwritten engineering rule that applies is "just because you CAN do something, that doesn't mean you SHOULD do something."
The biggest argument for that is the trend toward moving most operator controls and indicators to a giant touch screen.
Most cars with electric locking systems have a physical key that will open a door from the outside, though sometimes a little cap has to be pried off to get access to the lock.
The geniuses at Tesla decided that wasn't necessary.
Yeah, I gave the GF a window breaker when I discovered her Trailblazer had a Death Sequence to it when the battery charge fails.
-Loose or slipping engine belt.
-Battery drains down.
-Car stalls at stop.
-Battery does not have sufficient charge to start the engine/restore electrical.
-Ignition switch does not release the key when battery is run down.
-Driver must exit via driver door’s manual unlock and enters passing traffic without parking or break lights illuminated. Key remains in the ignition.
-Kid is in the back seat and locked in due to no power and no key fob or power to unlock the doors.
Then there’s the whole driver side electric door accessories shorting and starting a fire in the door -a known issue. Throw in the mix a kid in the back seat where there is no keyed unlock = Parent freak out -should they survive exiting into passing traffic.
So a window breaker went into the center console bin which has a manual latch.
Most cars have a hidden way of opening the doors if the electrical system dies. Most owners don’t know that
This is part of the first generation of electric vehicles. This issue along with many others related to safety, battery life, range, etc. will be corrected in later generations of EV’s. My wife and I did this with the Toyota Prius. The first generation had lots of flaws. The second generation was much better. We are hooked on hybrid vehicles (our Camry routinely gets 50 plus mpg). When EV’s get cheaper, go farther, charge faster, etc. we will likely buy one. Not until then. I’ll let rich and dumb be the Guinea pigs.
Sounds odd but there roadsides throughout the country where you would be hard pressed to find a rock large enough to break a car window, that's assuming Grandma has the strength to do it.
* No small child strapped into a car seat is going to operate any release mechanism and even an older child isn’t going to figure out those directions, even if Grandma knows what to do and is screaming it through the glass at them.*
A child strapped into a car seat won’t be able to figure out how to unlock and open most any door on any vehicle. They are dependent upon the adult who put them in the car seat to take care of them. Our car presently prevents you from getting locked out when a key is in the car. A sensor could be embedded to keep lockouts from occurring when a child is in a car seat.
The de-evolution in government is a large part of the problem.
Keep in mind that Pete Buttigeig, the current Secretary of Transportation, is a at best an actor as he has no competency in transportation. (Politics is show business for ugly people).
Sometimes reading the manual is useful....
“firemen break out windows on both sides of the car and pass the hose right through the car” ...... This sometimes happens in real life. I have seen it. And yes, they do seem to enjoy doing it.
ALL OF THIS MAKES ME LOVE MY 1979 BUICK & my 1976 Chevy 1 ton truck MORE.
It's a DEI-volution.
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.
It's a stupid design. Failing to read the article is even stupider.
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