Any new vehicle that has electronic locks also has an emergency release mechanism. A lot of the complaining...and rightfully so...is about the rear seats...in some EVs the emergency releases aren't easily accessible.

 

Agreed because I don't see anywhere on the inside where there are emergency release mechanisms. So then I started wondering if the battery bursted in flames and torched the wiring to the modules that control the door locks, can you still get out?

 

The SEV will mechanically unlatch from the inside via the door handles.
Pull the door handle once and it unlocks, pull it a second time and it opens, no electronics required.

 

Lock yourself in the car and have someone disconnect the 12v battery and fireman loop. See if you can still get out.

Doors pulls do feel entirely mechanical.

 

I have taken all door panels off and every single door has a mechanical latch from the lock to the interior handle. There is no safety concern with the SEV.

 

If the 12V is dead you can still get into the Silverado, it has a mechanical latch.

 

The SEV will mechanically unlatch from the inside via the door handles.
Pull the door handle once and it unlocks, pull it a second time and it opens, no electronics required.

Thanks for the input. Might have to put that to the test.

Lock yourself in the car and have someone disconnect the 12v battery and fireman loop. See if you can still get out.

Doors pulls do feel entirely mechanical.

I had thought about putting it to the test if I locked myself in the car and waited the 15 minutes or so for the vehicle to completely shut off and then try to exit. Not sure if that would "simulate" the same thing.

 

Thanks for the input. Might have to put that to the test.

I had thought about putting it to the test if I locked myself in the car and waited the 15 minutes or so for the vehicle to completely shut off and then try to exit. Not sure if that would "simulate" the same thing.

Just get in lock the doors and pull the handle, you can feel the mechanical engagement, see the lock light go out on the lock button for the door, an Not Hear the loud electronic actuator, and pull it again and feel it mechanically open.

Then get in the back, do the same thing and you can also see and feel the rear physical door lock stud slid up out of the door linearly as you pull, no question it is mechanical.

 

In any case, I would recommend carrying a hammer/belt cutter tool anyway. You never know when someone else on the road is gonna need your help. It happens.

Or you somehow get wedged somewhere that the doors can't physically open but you could shimmy out a window. Or even the sky roof thingy if you have one.

Or you get in an accident and the belt tightens/locks in a certain way that you can't release it and have to cut yourself out.

(My mom was a cop for 19 years and saw all kinds of things and made me carry one of these from the first day I drove a car.)