Opening the doors in the Model S if power fails

[ddruz]

The 12V battery seems to be a significant problem for every car that has a large battery. I've heard that originally Tesla didn't have a 12V battery but later they changed. What I haven't heard is why.

Do you suppose the 12V battery was added to power the ancillary systems to help prevent bricking? I read somewhere that's one of the reasons the Leaf also has a 12V battery. Where did they add that battery? Does anyone know? I've wondered if that's what's under the arm rests and why they can't give us storage there. Does anyone know the answers? Thanks.

[widodh]

Do you suppose the 12V battery was added to power the ancillary systems to help prevent bricking? I read somewhere that's one of the reasons the Leaf also has a 12V battery. Where did they add that battery? Does anyone know? I've wondered if that's what's under the arm rests and why they can't give us storage there. Does anyone know the answers? Thanks.

Maybe?

You could always charge the 12V battery with the big pack, but when the big pack goes under a certain point you can cut off all the power to the pack and just let it sit there.

The 12V battery could then still power some vital functions of the car (like the locks and GSM/GPS module) so it can be revived again.

It would however be useful if there was an easy accessible point where you can charge the 12V battery if it died for some weird reason.

Wonder if they are using some cool Lithium-Ion 12V battery (Probably not)

[Robert.Boston]

The problems created by getting rid of a physical key....

[widodh]

The problems created by getting rid of a physical key....

True. A backup physical key which allows you access to the frunk for example would be handy. From there you could then open the door with a physical cable or something.

[efusco]

There's gotta be some mechanism to get in if there's a failure of the 12V system--it doesn't necessarily need to be a complete battery failure causing the problem, but it's magical thinking to believe that this won't happen once in a while. Unless there's some external access to the 12V one would be reduced to using a jimmy bar just to get into the car.

[cinergi]

I've opened pandora's box

At this point, I'd say we don't have confirmation one way or the other. It's what one employee told me this weekend. They could be wrong. I'm trying to get confirmation now.. let's not turn this into 100 "me, too!" posts please

[Jeeps17]

let's not turn this into 100 "me, too!" posts please

+1

[Doug_G]

I'm not sure European safety laws would allow a car to be sold here if it can't be opened in case of a flat (or otherwise unusable) battery.

In case of an accident, there is a trivial but destructive way to get in. Smash the window, reach in and pull the lever.

[grommet]

I remember when I returned to our dead Audi at the airport after a vacation; kids left the rear dome light on. No problem since I had a portable 12V jumper in the trunk, right? Turns out the trunk, even though it has a keyhole available, has an electronic lock... so it wouldn't open, and there is no "analog" cable to open it inside the car. And no, I wasn't able to crawl through the "ski" slot between the rear seats to get to the jumper. Isn't technology wonderful?

[SCW-Greg]

After looking at the latest skateboard deck they had on our showroom floor, and reviewing the test drive cars, can we even say the 12V system is separate from the main battery pack? I saw no evidence of a "separate" 12v battery anywhere... not that doesn't exist. Nor did I ask about it, but it just seemed that the whole car was so thoroughly built around a clean simple system - the main batt pack. ???

So perhaps it's just a matter of plugging the car in to get live juice?