With the continuous improvement in automotive construction, hidden door handles have become a major trend in the design of modern vehicles.
This stylish design enhances the vehicle's aerodynamic performance and reduces wind resistance while imparting a more modern and fashionable feel.
However, we cannot ignore certain issues and pitfalls associated with hidden door handles.
Hidden door handles are still widely used, mainly because they offer certain advantages such as:
1. Aesthetic appeal: Hidden door handles can simplify the vehicle's appearance and make it more beautiful, meeting the aesthetic needs of today's people.
2. Convenience: Hidden door handles can make opening and closing the vehicle more convenient. Pulling the handle manually is unnecessary; just a push or touch is enough to open and close the door.
3. Safety: Hidden door handles can reduce wind resistance and noise caused by door handles during driving, improving the stability and comfort of the vehicle.
Although hidden door handles have certain advantages, they also have some disadvantages, such as:
1. High cost: Hidden door handles generally cost more than traditional door handles, which can increase the vehicle's manufacturing cost.
2. Maintenance difficulty: Hidden door handles are usually more difficult to maintain than traditional ones. If they are damaged and need to be replaced, they may take longer and cost more.
3. Reliability needs improvement: Some hidden door handles may malfunction during use and require repairs or replacement.
Therefore, whether hidden door handles will be eliminated should be examined based on factors such as market demand, technological development, and cost.
Hidden door handles were originally designed for two reasons:
On one hand, they can reduce wind resistance and, to some extent, allow purely electric models to save energy. According to research conducted abroad, hidden door handles can reduce energy consumption by 0.005 kWh at 40 km/h and by 0.12 kWh at 80 km/h.
This represents a tiny increase in energy consumption of 0.005 kWh. This is a tiny increase in autonomy, but for engineers, gain points must be captured, so hidden door handles have landed.
On the other hand, hidden door handles are quite beautiful to highlight the vehicle's sidelines better, without the distraction of additional parts, and with a sufficient sense of style and technology.
Hidden door handles have numerous drawbacks, primarily because opening the door is frequent, involving more steps, exerting anti-human force, and lacking ergonomic design.
A simple horizontal pull must be changed into force through the finger, causing more issues.
Additionally, hidden door handles pose a safety risk as the risk of side collision is higher.
Although the opening device design addresses this, there must be pressure for rescue if the door handle becomes stuck.
Some companies have started to abandon hidden door handles, opting for lifting the door to open it, which can also reduce wind resistance, like a lower posture sedan; opening the door is very close to ergonomics.
This type of door opening has been used in many vehicles and is just as functional and practical as the horizontal door handle.
In any case, users increasingly dislike hidden door handles, and some companies have become aware of the problem and started to abandon the concept of hidden door handles on later models.
After all, giving up convenience and comfort in favor of a more upscale concept is putting the cart before the horse.
