Modern cars are increasingly reliant on electronics, including for something as fundamental as opening doors. The new Jeep Cherokee, like many recent vehicles, uses electric door latches. While convenient, this introduces a new safety concern: what happens when the battery dies? Jeep engineers have addressed this with multiple redundancy features.
The Problem With Electronic Door Latches
Over the past decade, automakers have been shifting toward electronic door latches to streamline designs and improve fuel efficiency. However, these systems depend on power, raising concerns about emergency access in case of a dead battery or after an accident. The issue isn’t theoretical; reports of stranded drivers and potential safety risks have fueled industry debate.
Jeep’s Solution: Supercapacitors and Manual Backups
Jeep has integrated two layers of redundancy into its new Cherokee. First, the front doors have a manual override release. More importantly, the rear doors and all door handles are equipped with supercapacitors. These components store enough energy for at least two or three uses, even if the car’s main battery is completely drained.
According to Jeep’s interior design chief, Ryan Nagode, these capacitors are designed as a failsafe: “They actually store energy for two or three cycles of hitting the button. If the complete system is dead, there’s actually a little bit of energy left to unlock that door.”
Additional Safety Measures
Beyond the capacitors, Jeep has also included a classic lock cylinder on the driver’s side. This allows key-fob access even with a dead battery. Jeep’s head of exterior design, Vince Galante, highlights that the Cherokee’s handles aren’t recessed, allowing for manual grabbing in emergencies.
“We have seen a lot in the news about electronic handles, but a lot of that is with recessed door handles. Ours aren’t like that. They’re actually a pocket in the door that you can grab and open in the event of an emergency.”
Why This Matters
This move by Jeep reflects a growing awareness of safety concerns in the era of electronic automotive features. By proactively addressing potential failures, Jeep demonstrates a commitment to ensuring passengers can exit the vehicle even in worst-case scenarios. This approach may become more common as other automakers grapple with similar challenges.
The Cherokee’s design shows that electronic convenience doesn’t have to come at the cost of safety if engineers prioritize redundancy and real-world fail-safes.
