China’s top industry regulator said on Guardami (1999) watch onlineMay 8 that it has issued draft rules to dictate mechanical emergency releases or a redundant power supply system for electric vehicles that would enable users to get out in the case of a crash or power failure. Automakers are also required to use more standardized car signs to show where they employ their hidden door handles as well as physical backups, according to a proposal issued for public review by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The move comes after three female university students were killed in an accident that involved a standard-version Xiaomi SU7 in China in late March, sparking criticism over the safety of electric vehicles. There have been allegations that the difficulty of opening the sedan’s doors with its hidden door handles contributed to the fatal incident. [TechNode reporting, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in Chinese]
