Donald Norman very early in his book "The Design of Everyday Things" discusses door design in modern buildings focusing on the lack and/or ambiguity of signifiers. These vehicles solve the problem just by removing the ability to open them.
"Rear doors either do not have an emergency release" - you mean like every coupé ever built? Since when were you protesting coupés? Rear doors not only do not have to have manual releases, but don't even have to exist.
"lack and/or ambiguity of signifiers" - the front manual release handle is not only not ambiguous, but is far more prominent than the electric release button, so most people with no experience with the car pull it instead of the button.
It's also, in all this, noting that modern cars have crash sequences. A crash is detected either (ideally) immediately before, or during its occurrence. A wide range of events are triggered, such as brakes, airbags, etc... and among the things triggered is *unlatching all the doors for easy egress* (the specific details depends on the door design - you want the door easy to open but not to pop out during the crash itself). Now, things can go wrong - the prime characteristic of a crash is that it mangles your car, and this can jam doors shut or cause other problems. This is why the Jaws of Life exists. But prepping the doors for egress is something that cars at least try to do during a crash.
I only read the article and some commenters here saying the windows break. The commenter above provides a reason for it that you say is not true. I stand by my comment, that if it is the case the design is "inspired"
>"Rear doors either do not have an emergency release" - you mean like every coupé ever built? Since when were you protesting coupés? Rear doors not only do not have to have manual releases, but don't even have to exist.
Don't most (all ?) of these cars have rear doors? What do coupés have to do with this? Convertibles don't have a roof but I would expect it in a sedan. If the doors exist there sould be a release that works in the case of this electrcal malfunction.
>"lack and/or ambiguity of signifiers" - the front manual release handle is not only not ambiguous, but is far more prominent than the electric release button, so most people with no experience with the car pull it instead of the button.
I expect this is the case for one model? The article has 2 cases of people that own these cars (a model y I think) and could not find the manual release without reading the manual or calling someone. Moreover the confusion you are describing (using the emergency rather than the regular release button) is exactly what ambiguous signifiers result in. This is a design failure as well.
I agree that unlatching the doors in a crash is a part of the crash sequence in many modern cars but these cases are not about crashes. Sudden power loss or an electrical malfunction should trigger the unlatching of doors and they seem to not. Jaws of life would not be a prudent way to get out of your car in these occasions.
2-3 door cars are supposed to be left via moving the front seat. 4-5 door cars DON'T HAVE THAT FUNCTION, THAT'S WHY LACK OF EMERGENCY RELEASE ON THEM IS SO BAD.
Obviously, not very well.
It wasn't fun, but I did love that car.
Once I get my NACS adapter for my Bolt, the main reason to buy a Tesla will be gone as well. I wonder if my 2017 model needs a software update to connect.
I'll take "Things That Have Never Happened" for $800
Most people with no experience with the car reach for the handle rather than the button, as it's more intuitive. The window does NOT shatter when they do this. The window is up against a rubber seal. Rubber has give - it just drags along the rubber. Which you'd ideally rather not do, but it's hardly the end of the world.
(In case anyone is wondering why it's like this - the cars have frameless windows. The same applies to all cars with frameless windows - Teslas aren't the only ones. Generally higher-end cars.)
It's explicitly mentioned in TFA as something that happened.
) Exton followed the instructions for the manual release to open the door, but he said this "somehow broke the driver's window."
I drove a Dodge Neon in the late 90s with frameless windows. The windows were not powered and it did not have a system to lower them when opening the door. It just worked.
Without power the manual handle needs to do that also, which is more complicated that a "normal" door handle.
Edit: Also, I guess weight also of such a battery, but I suppose maybe the weight can be understood by how much reserve it would need.
When you open the door, the window slides down slightly to clear the frame. If you force it manually, the window might break.
I believe the original intention was to simply create a reliable, water-tight seal.
I've had this style of window on a sports car for about 10 years and never had any trouble. Many situations where battery was dead or winter weather would make it more difficult to open, but never panic-inducing or made me think it was about to shatter. More of a super sticky seal with the rubber.