KATHMANDU: Flush door handles, a feature increasingly used even in entry-level cars these days, are set to be banned in China.
Chinese regulatory authorities are reportedly planning a comprehensive ban on fully retractable (hidden) car door handles across the automotive industry, citing safety hazards and functional deficiencies, according to online news portal CarNewsChina.
Originally popularized by American electric car company Tesla to improve aerodynamics, this technology is now widely adopted in most electric vehicles.
According to Chinese media, a drat for mandatory door handle standards is expected to be finalized by this month. Regulators, however, may allow semi-retractable and traditional door handles provided that they incorporate mechanical redundancy to ensure reliable operation.
Flush handles also cost more than conventional lever-type handles and have been linked to a 12% repair rate among new energy vehicles due to failures, according to news reports.
Tests have showed that flush door handles have a minimal impact on a vehicle’s drag coefficient, translating into an energy savings of 0.6 kWh over a 100 km journey. Instead, adding the mechanical structure and motors for pop-up handles increases the weight by 7–8 kg, which largely negates the aerodynamic benefits. Flush handles also cost more than conventional lever-type handles and have been linked to a 12% repair rate among new energy vehicles due to failures, according to news reports.
Similarly, there have been widespread reports of flush door handles freezing in extreme cold or malfunctioning in heavy rain, forcing passengers to break windows to exit. These electrically controlled pop-out handles can leave occupants without any alternative way to open the door during a malfunction or accident.
Many Chinese EV models available in Nepal use flush door handles.
