It is almost always a detail that comes to get chest from the ‘technological’ which is a car, promising greater aerodynamics or simply an aesthetic decision not to shave the doors, but it is also an issue that entails its risks. We refer to retractable handles that have been conquering high -end vehicles for a good time. In China They study prohibiting them from 2027and the reasons go beyond aesthetics.
The background problem. Popularized by Tesla And massively adopted by premium manufacturers, retractable shooters are added on many occasions because they promise better aerodynamics and a cleaner design. However, according to Testing of the Chinese Institute C-IASIthey only work correctly in 67% of the lateral impacts, compared to 98% of traditional mechanical handles.
The figures. His aerodynamic contribution is practically insignificant, as they point out information of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), since they barely reduce between 0.005 and 0.01 points the air resistance coefficient. This translates into an energy saving of 0.6 kWh per 100 kilometers, equivalent to some cents by route. In return, they add between 7 and 8 kilos of electrical mechanisms to the vehicle and cost three times more than a conventional handle.
When technology fails. The cases Documented In China the worrying problems that these elements can cause in vehicles: from occupants trapped after flooding, to delays in frozen handle evacuations in winter, also passing through drivers forced to break the windows of their own cars. An electrical failure, a disconnected battery or the engine of the blocked handle can be enough to turn the car into a trap. “Many passengers of the rear seats do not know where to find or how to activate the emergency system,” They report From Bloomberg in an article focused on the retractable handles of the Tesla.
The Chinese effect. The Asian giant, the first world market for electric vehicles, could change the rules of the game. The country proposes a regulation where only conventional or semi-scamoteable handles with emergency mechanical solution is allowed. Since developing both systems in many manufacturers is an unfeasible solution, a prohibition in China could mean the almost universal disappearance of this type of cranks.
Beyond the handles. Europe also moves in this direction. From 2026, the Euro NCAP program will not grant five stars to models that integrate vital functions only through tactile interfaces, without physical controls. In China this was already a reality, demanding physical buttons for certain essential functions.
The immediate future. Some manufacturers They have advanced: Volkswagen and Audi already favor semi-scamoteable handles with mechanical backup cables. Wei Jianjun, executive director of Great Wall Motor, also publicly denounced “the uselessness and dangers of retractable handles.” It is very possible that, if Chinese regulations continue, we will see fewer cars with these handles in concessionaires around the world.
Cover image | Matt Smith
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