For the sake of the driving public, EV makers must reign in the clever

Reign in the clever

We’ve done four videos over the last few weeks helping drivers get into and jump start their electric vehicles (EVs) with dead 12-volt start batteries. Starting a fifth video leaves us frankly angry and really wanting manufacturers to reign in the clever.

We’ve had to describe getting under the hood of Tesla models and the Ford Mustang Mach-E through the bumper. We’ve warned Hyundai and Kia drivers to be sure to hang on to the mechanical key that is sadly supplied separately in too many models.

Now as we gather information for a Cadillac jump start video, we see that we will need to tell Lyriq drivers that they will need to crawl through car from the back hatch to get at the hood release. That hatch has the only mechanical access.

All of this is a direct result of manufacturers each trying to out cute the other as well as the use of electronic latches. And an insult to the driving public.

• Tesla refuses to use a mechanical key and a necessary key hole on any model.
• The Mustang also lacks a mechanical key because of course Tesla is the “gold” standard.
• Hyundai and Kia have decided that, since there is app access to their models, they consider a mechanical key an accessory.
• And Cadillac is evidently intent on following rather than leading.

And then there’s an entire page we assembled — seen here — to help people get out of cars with electronic latches in the event of a power failure. That page was prompted by a death from sun stroke in Texas some years ago in a GM coupe.

We’ve pleaded with manufacturers to build with their customers needs first, particularly at the worst times. We’ve asked that key holes no longer be hidden, not that they should be done away with! We’ve asked that back-up start options be obvious and consolidated, to no avail.

And given that an electronic latch requires a mechanical back-up, just exactly what is the point???

The point is to be cute and clever, and its well past time that the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) put its foot down.

Well past time.

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