Torque Shop: Learn how to open cars with electric door-release switches in case of emergency

How does an electric door-release work and what should one do if it fails?

The electric door release is becoming common in cars, especially recent electric vehicles.

Essentially, the basic latching unit is a conventional mechanical device similar to that used in modern automobiles. While they vary in design, all automotive door latching and locking systems must satisfy minimum requirements stipulated by lawmakers.

For example, in Europe, the closed car door must be capable of withstanding a lateral force of 8.9 tonnes. This is regardless of whether the doors are released electrically or by conventional mechanical latches. The requirement ensures that the doors do not fly open even if there is a passenger leaning heavily against it during fast and hard cornering.

In the electric door-release system, the occupant needs to press a button on the door, which sends power to an actuator, most commonly a miniature electric motor, to unlatch the door lock.

In many cars with such systems, there is also a retractable strut which initiates the door-opening movement, so that less effort is needed to open the door.

In some cars, the system also opens the door completely and will detect an obstruction in its path. Sensors ensure that the self-opening door will stop, to avoid hitting an object that is close to the door.

Doors with electric switch release have an emergency mechanical handle connected to the latch, so that in the event of total power failure, the doors can still be opened.

If you are travelling in a car with electric door release, make sure to find out where and how to open the door in an emergency. This is because the manual lock in some of these cars is hidden under the grab handle or sometimes behind a plastic cover that needs to be prised out to access the lever.