The seemingly simple act of opening a car door has become a major safety concern for electric vehicles, and Volvo is taking a bold stance. As regulators and consumers grow increasingly wary of power door handles due to mounting safety worries, Volvo, a brand synonymous with safety innovation, is equipping its latest electric vehicle, the EX60 crossover, with distinctive shark-fin shaped electronic door handles. The rationale, as explained by a company executive, is straightforward: when designed correctly, these handles shouldn't pose a safety risk.
Anders Bell, Volvo's chief technology officer, shared his perspective at the EX60's launch event, stating, "We're launching with our shark fin door handles in the middle of an ongoing debate on door handle safety, which is a kind of a bit of a misguided point, because it's about system safety, not our door handles, really." He elaborated that the core issue isn't the handle itself, but rather system safety and ensuring a reliable and quick exit from the vehicle, especially in critical situations or if a passenger is incapacitated.
But here's where it gets controversial: The scrutiny on power door handles stems from the "extraction problem." Unlike traditional manual latches, electronic door handles depend on power. In the event of a crash or power loss, these handles can become inoperable. While most cars have mechanical backups, the effectiveness hinges on the user's knowledge of their existence and location. A chilling example is the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, where a 72-year-old man and his dog tragically perished after the car's battery died. Despite a mechanical release, the man, unaware of its floor-mounted location, was unable to escape the vehicle on a hot Texas day.
This isn't an isolated incident. Volkswagen faced a sales halt for its ID.4 in 2024 due to door handle issues requiring a global fix. More recently, the family of a Tesla Cybertruck owner who died in a fiery crash has alleged in a lawsuit that the driver was unable to exit the vehicle due to difficulties in locating the hidden mechanical door release. Even designs with seemingly intuitive interior releases can have a fatal flaw: no easy external access for first responders or bystanders. This was tragically highlighted in a Tesla Model S incident where a passenger was unable to escape a burning vehicle due to this limitation. The Xiaomi SU7 has also faced similar criticisms, with an owner in China dying after being trapped in a burning car, which has spurred regulatory action to ban hazardous door handle designs.
And this is the part most people miss: The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is actively investigating Tesla's door handles for potential safety issues, and a congressional member has proposed federal legislation to mandate quick and intuitive emergency door handle designs. Volvo, however, believes its design eliminates these concerns. Bell asserts that both the exterior shark-fin handles and the interior power-operated latches on the EX60 will function even if the car's battery is destroyed in a crash.
Volvo's ingenious solution for the interior lies in a dual-action handle. A gentle pull activates the electronic release, while a firmer pull engages a mechanical cable. "So you pull a little, you open them electrically. You pull more, you open mechanically," Bell explained. This ensures that even in a panic, the door will open as intended. For external access in an accident, Volvos are designed to automatically unlock upon impact. Furthermore, pulling the handle will open the door, irrespective of a dead or destroyed 12-volt battery.
Volvo's redundancy extends to the power supply for these critical systems. Instead of a single DC-to-DC converter, the EX60 features two converters, one on each side of the vehicle, located inboard and under the rear seats. These systems are interconnected, ensuring that 12-volt power is available for emergency systems as long as at least one converter remains functional. Bell noted, "What happens if you knock both out? Well, frankly speaking, at that point you can't [tell] what kind of car it was. It's a very protected area."
Do you believe that electronic door handles, even with advanced safety features, can ever be as reliable as traditional mechanical ones? Or is the pursuit of sleek design overshadowing essential safety considerations? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
