Why China is seeking to clamp down on these EV door handles

BEIJING: The Chinese authorities are seriously considering banning retractable door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), for safety reasons. This could have unfortunate consequences for automakers, forced to adapt designs to new standards.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is seeking to review the regulations concerning flush or hidden door handles on electric vehicles, following several accident cases in which these handles remained retracted, hindering emergency access to the passenger compartment.

For the time being, this is a proposal currently being studied.

The idea would be to impose a new manufacturing standard on automakers.

As such, vehicles equipped with hidden door handles would be required to have a mechanical opening mechanism accessible from the outside, guaranteeing door opening even in the event of an electrical fault.

This is essential for gaining access to the interior of the car in the event of an emergency. And China isn't the only country concerned about these kinds of EV door handles, since in Germany too, the ADAC, or General German Automobile Club, recently warned of this risk, particularly in the event of fire.

Retractable or flush door handles have become a symbol of modernity on electric vehicles.

Integrated into the bodywork, these hidden handles deploy automatically to allow the doors to be opened, offering a sleeker design and improved aerodynamics.

Made popular by Tesla, this system has since been adopted by the vast majority of automakers, including Chinese brands, all the more so as this technology is combined with practical features such as keyless entry, proximity sensing, touch unlocking systems, and more.

This initiative could prompt other countries to reconsider the use of this type of handle, which, although practical in everyday use, can prove dangerous in certain circumstances.