- Rivian is reportedly redesigning the rear door handles in the upcoming R2.
- Electric and manual releases may be placed closer together for visibility.
- Tesla faced similar criticism as victims struggled to escape burning vehicles.
Door handles have been in the news a lot lately and there are growing concerns that some might not be intuitive enough to use during an emergency. Most of the debate has revolved around Tesla and there are multiple reports of people being trapped inside burning vehicles.
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That’s a terrible way to die and Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, recently confirmed his team is working on new door handles that are easier to use in a “panic situation.” The specifics are hazy, but the new handles will reportedly merge electronic and mechanical door-release mechanisms.
Panic-Proofing The Doors
This would be a huge improvement as opening the rear doors in a Model Y without power is hardly intuitive. As the owner manual explains, “At the bottom of the rear door pocket, there is a slot in front of the release cover.” Rear seat passengers are supposed to slide their finger into the slot, remove the cover, and then pull the mechanical release cable forward.
Also: Fiery Crash Kills Driver Trapped Inside Tesla Model 3
That’s hardly straightforward, let alone in an emergency situation. Even worse, back seat passengers are more likely to be children or people unfamiliar with the vehicle.
Handle Lessons For The R2
Tesla isn’t the only company rethinking door handles as Bloomberg is reporting Rivian is doing the same after “employees and customers raised concerns.” As part of the revamp, the company could put a manual release closer to the electric door releases in the back of the R2. These would also be “clearly visible.”
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More: Electric Door Handles Face Global Scrutiny After Deadly EV Crashes
This would be a significant change as the R2 reportedly uses a similar setup as the R1 and Model Y. This requires passengers to “remove an unlabeled panel and pull a release cord.”
When asked for comment, Rivian told the publication that “safety is at the center of everything we do at Rivian, and R2 is no different.” They added the upcoming electric crossover “will meet or exceed all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including passenger egress from all doors in the event of a crash or emergency.”
A Regulatory Gap
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However, the dangers of unintuitive and hidden manual door releases are becoming painfully clear as bodies start piling up. This has the executive director of the Center for Auto Safety calling for changes.
As Michael Brooks told Bloomberg, “The lack of federal safety regulations in this area means manufacturers aren’t required to standardize vehicle emergency exit functions, leaving the burden on consumers to study the various emergency escape configurations for every car they travel in.”
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