China bans hidden door handles

[Metric Max]

Just read this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp37g5nxe3lo

[Evercross]

Metric Max said:

Just read this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp37g5nxe3lo

Utter common sense!

[Countdown]

I've always thought they were pointless.

I believe they are installed for "improved aerodynamics" - does that really justify the extra complexity and risk of borkage?

[Petrus1983]

Evercross said:

Utter common sense!

I'm with you on this one - I'm sure the US would have done it first if it didn't involve upsetting Elon.

[Andrew1234]

There's a youtube video out there somewhere on this subject. As I recall the hidden door handle isn't the only problem, on some of these cars (the Xiaomi SU7, the Porsche Taycan rip off?) there is no mechanical linkage whatsoever to open the door, opening it is entirely reliant on a microswitch and a solenoid.... what could possibly go wrong!

Edited by Andrew1234 on Tuesday 3rd February 12:08

[Petrus1983]

Andrew1234 said:

There's a youtube video out there somewhere on this subject. As I recall the hidden door handle isn't the only problem, on some of these cars (the Xiaomi SU7, the Porsche Taycan rip off?) there is no mechanical linkage whatsoever to open the door, opening it is entirely reliant on a microswitch and a solenoid.... what could possibly go wrong!

Edited by Andrew1234 on Tuesday 3rd February 12:08

Next time you go on holiday don't ask the pilot too many questions about how things work

https://youtu.be/JOtOC381kbA?si=XT5vTrS6P2eCclUN

[Liamjrhodes]

I really don't think the aesthetics of door handles is something governments should be getting involved in, I do however agree there should always be a mechanical failsafe which should be a regulation.

[LivLL]

Amazing isn't it that companies try to reinvent the wheel after decades of proven reliability and cock it up so badly. How did these handles pass certification in the first place if they are rendered inoperative if the 12v system goes flat?

Does that mean Chinese Teslas will have to come with normal mechanical handles too?

[giantdefy]

Petrus1983 said:

Next time you go on holiday don't ask the pilot too many questions about how things work

https://youtu.be/JOtOC381kbA?si=XT5vTrS6P2eCclUN

Fly by Wire is always at least triplicated, fairly sure Tesla door handles aren't

[Petrus1983]

giantdefy said:

Fly by Wire is always at least triplicated, fairly sure Tesla door handles aren't

For sure. I'd expected FBW systems to cost multiple times what the average Tesla costs.

[nickchallis92]

Petrus1983 said:

Evercross said:

Utter common sense!

I'm with you on this one - I'm sure the US would have done it first if it didn't involve upsetting Elon.

I doubt it. One of the great things about living in the USA is how liberal they are on car ownership.

[HTP99]

Andrew1234 said:

There's a youtube video out there somewhere on this subject. As I recall the hidden door handle isn't the only problem, on some of these cars (the Xiaomi SU7, the Porsche Taycan rip off?) there is no mechanical linkage whatsoever to open the door, opening it is entirely reliant on a microswitch and a solenoid.... what could possibly go wrong!

Edited by Andrew1234 on Tuesday 3rd February 12:08

The current fiat 500 has a microswitch and solenoid system, well at least for opening the door from the inside, I noticed when I tested drove one last year, I was quite surprised and did wonder what would happen if it failed, to open from the inside you had to press a button, it was very cheap feeling and sounding.

Both the Mégane and Scenic EV's have flush door handles that pop out electrically, however they can also be pulled out manually and feel like there is a mechanical action to opening the car.

[Pincher]

LivLL said:

Amazing isn't it that companies try to reinvent the wheel after decades of proven reliability and cock it up so badly.

See also Audi indicators. What’s wrong with a blink blink - I’d honestly only consider a modern Audi if the strobing effect could be coded out and revert back to proper indicators. Grrrrr’

[Krikkit]

Countdown said:

I believe they are installed for "improved aerodynamics" - does that really justify the extra complexity and risk of borkage?

No, but when you're desperate for every mile in early EVs it's worth it. It's also the fashion of being different.

[Pica-Pica]

Pincher said:

LivLL said:

Amazing isn't it that companies try to reinvent the wheel after decades of proven reliability and cock it up so badly.

See also Audi indicators. What s wrong with a blink blink - I d honestly only consider a modern Audi if the strobing effect could be coded out and revert back to proper indicators. Grrrrr

I actually prefer to see them, it makes them more noticeable.

[languagetimothy]

Liamjrhodes said:

I really don't think the aesthetics of door handles is something governments should be getting involved in, I do however agree there should always be a mechanical failsafe which should be a regulation.

perhaps that's what UK PM was doing out there and it was the top of his list of important world issues.

[Liamjrhodes]

languagetimothy said:

perhaps that's what UK PM was doing out there and it was the top of his list of important world issues.

Wouldn't be the first time they have spent unnecessary time and money on trivial 'issues'

[Muddle238]

Countdown said:

I've always thought they were pointless.

I believe they are installed for "improved aerodynamics" - does that really justify the extra complexity and risk of borkage?

It's entirely possibly to have flush mechanical/conventional door handles, good for aero but without the complexity of all the electronic rubbish that fails.

Volvo were doing it 25 years ago, I'm sure there are others.

[kambites]

Very lazy headline. As far as I can see they're not banning flush/hidden door handles, they're banning electrically operated door latches. You can easily have mechanically connected flush handles, and for that matter you could have electronic non-flush ones.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 3rd February 21:00

[Dog Star]

Funny really - ooh Tesla bad electronic push button door handles. Ohhhh TVR push hidden button to open door oooh I’ve cum in my pants. PH, eh?