Volvo says the growing backlash against electronic door handles misses the real issue, which is not the handles themselves but whether occupants and rescuers can reliably get people out of a crashed vehicle. With its new EX60 electric SUV, the company claims it has engineered redundancy into the system so doors can still be opened even if power is lost.
Speaking at the launch of the EX60, Anders Bell, Volvo’s chief technology officer, said safety concerns around power door handles are often misunderstood. According to Bell, the real challenge is ensuring fast, intuitive exits during emergencies, including situations where occupants are unconscious and need to be rescued from outside the vehicle.
Regulators have become increasingly focused on this problem because electronic door handles rely on power, unlike traditional mechanical latches. While most vehicles include mechanical backups, these are often hidden or unfamiliar. In past incidents involving vehicles such as the Tesla Model S and the Tesla Cybertruck, families have alleged that drivers or rescuers struggled to locate or operate emergency releases. Similar concerns have also been raised after fatal incidents involving the Xiaomi SU7 in China. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating whether some power door handle designs pose inherent safety risks.
Volvo’s solution focuses on redundancy and simplicity. Inside the EX60, the same handle controls both the electronic and mechanical door releases. A light pull opens the door electronically, while a harder pull automatically engages the mechanical release. Bell said this design ensures that in a panic situation, occupants will still be able to exit without needing to remember a separate hidden lever.
Opening the doors from the outside after a crash is where many vehicles fail, particularly if the 12 volt system is disabled. Volvo says the EX60 addresses this by using two independent DC to DC converters, one on each side of the vehicle. These converters step down power from the main high voltage battery to supply critical low voltage systems. As long as one converter remains functional, the exterior door handles will still work, even if the main 12 volt battery is damaged or destroyed.
Bell explained that both converters are mounted in protected areas under the rear seats, making it extremely unlikely that a single crash would disable both. Volvo vehicles also automatically unlock after a crash, allowing first responders or bystanders to open the doors immediately.
Volvo’s approach reflects a broader shift in the industry, as automakers try to balance sleek electronic designs with regulatory pressure and real world safety lessons. By combining intuitive mechanical backups with layered electrical redundancy, Volvo argues that electronic door handles can meet modern safety expectations rather than compromise them.