Know How to Open Electric Vehicle Doors During a Crash or Loss of Power

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently announced that it will begin a rulemaking process following reports of drivers and passengers becoming trapped inside vehicles after electrical power was lost during crashes.

In response, the U.S. Fire Administration urges electric vehicle owners, drivers, passengers and members of the fire service to learn how electric vehicle doors operate before an emergency occurs. That includes knowing how to find and use a vehicle’s manual or mechanical door release when electronic systems are unavailable.

Many electric vehicles use electronic door handles, push-button releases or powered latches. These systems may not work normally after a crash, battery failure, fire, water intrusion or other incidents that interrupt electrical power.

Most vehicles include a manual release, but its location and operation can vary significantly by manufacturer, model, model year and seating position. In some vehicles, the front and rear doors may not operate the same way. In others, rear-seat emergency releases may be difficult to see or access.

What EV owners, drivers and passengers should do

If you own, drive or regularly ride in an electric vehicle, take time now to learn how to open the doors manually.

• Read the owner’s manual
  Find the section that explains emergency door operation, manual door release or mechanical release. Review the instructions for each seating position, including rear seats.
• Locate the manual release before an emergency
  Manual releases may be located near the door handle, in the door pocket, under a cover, below the window switch, near the floor or behind an interior trim panel. Some rear-seat releases may require removing a small cover or accessing a hidden lever or cable.
• Practice identifying the release
  Do not wait until a crash or power failure to figure out how the system works. Make sure all regular drivers and passengers know where the release is located and how to use it.
• Teach children and other passengers
  When appropriate for their age and ability, show passengers how to open the doors manually. Explain that the normal electronic button or handle may not work if the vehicle loses power.
• Do not assume every door works the same way
  Front and rear doors may have different release mechanisms. Some vehicles may have emergency releases only in certain locations.
• Keep instructions accessible
  If the owner’s manual is stored digitally, consider keeping a printed copy of the emergency door-release instructions in the vehicle.
• Exit only when safe
  After a crash, be alert for traffic, fire, smoke, damaged electrical components and unstable surroundings. If you cannot exit, call 911, if possible, activate hazard lights if they work and signal to responders.

What fire departments and emergency responders should know

Fire departments and emergency responders should include electric vehicle door-release issues in training and incident planning.

• Add EV door-release familiarization to training
  Training should cover common door designs, including electronic handles, powered latches and hidden mechanical releases. Scenarios should include both front-seat and rear-seat release locations.
• Use manufacturer emergency response guides
  Responders should consult vehicle-specific emergency response guides when available. Manual release locations can differ significantly across models and model years.
• Expect concealed or counterintuitive mechanisms
  Manual releases may be hidden behind interior trim, under mats, beneath access panels or integrated into non-obvious levers or pull cables. Rear-seat mechanisms may be especially difficult to locate in low-visibility or high-stress conditions.
• Include door-access issues in size-up
  At crashes involving electric vehicles or vehicles with powered door systems, responders should consider early whether power loss may affect occupant egress. When relevant, crews should communicate door-release challenges to incoming units.
• Train on alternative access techniques
  Departments should maintain proficiency with forcible entry, glass management, stabilization and extrication procedures. Responders should follow department policies and manufacturer guidance for electric vehicle hazards, including high-voltage battery considerations.
• Educate the community
  During public safety events, departments can encourage EV owners to identify and practice using manual door releases. The key message is simple: Emergency releases may not be obvious and may not look like traditional door handles.

Electronic door systems may fail when vehicle power is interrupted. Knowing where the mechanical release is located and how to operate it can save critical seconds during a crash, fire or other emergency.

The U.S. Fire Administration encourages all EV owners, drivers, passengers and emergency responders to review vehicle-specific guidance and become familiar with manual door-release procedures before an emergency occurs.

For more information on EVs, check out USFA’s Electric Vehicle Fire/Response Operations Guide.