Cars Sold In Europe May Soon Ban Flush Door Handles

The European Commission, together with the UN organization UNECE and the Euro NCAP program, is preparing a review of safety standards. The European Union is increasingly concerned about the electric, retractable, and retractable door handles of modern cars.

What was once seen as a symbol of innovation and aerodynamic efficiency is now proving to be a potential security threat. After a series of fatal accidents, European regulators are examining whether these handles still meet safety standards.

The Chinese government announced in September that these systems would be banned starting in 2027.

It seems that Europe is now taking this danger seriously, as several institutions, including the European Road Safety Council (ETSC), are advocating for stricter regulations and mandatory mechanical opening of doors in emergencies.

According to Antonio Avenos, director of ETSC, the problem is no longer theoretical.

“We’ve already seen several incidents in Europe where people are trapped in their vehicles after an accident,” he told Bloomberg. However, car manufacturers still stick to this design.

Many manufacturers claim that the grips improve aerodynamics and thereby increase the range of electric cars, but critics point out that this argument does not hold up.

Studies show that the reduction of air resistance is minimal and that it brings savings of only about 1 euro per 1,000 kilometers traveled. In addition, crash tests by China’s C-IASI Institute showed that the electric grips functioned properly after a crash in only 67 percent of cases. With classic, mechanical handles, that percentage is 98 percent.

Also, electrical systems add an average of eight kilograms to the overall weight of a car, actually reducing its efficiency.

The European Commission, in cooperation with UNECE and Euro NCAP, is preparing a revision of safety standards which will stipulate that all vehicles with electric handles must also be equipped with a mechanical emergency system.

However, even this does not guarantee complete safety, as many cars have a physical backup handle to open the door from the inside, but passengers often do not know where it is.

In addition, in many cases, there is a possibility that the driver and passengers will remain unconscious after the collision and will not be able to open the vehicle from the inside, which further increases the risk.

• Read More: China Bans Retractable Car Door Handles?!