Is there some evidence that the electric handles are cheaper? You still need all of the same mechanical latches and linkages, but now add electric actuators and wiring. Intuitively it doesn’t seem like it would be cheaper to me.
Electric door handles don’t need all the linkages, it’s literally a solenoid that’s attached directly to the latch and that solenoid is both the door latch and the door lock. There’s only 2 moving parts, the solenoid and the latch itself. The model 3, S, X and Y have an additional moving part that is the actual handle that triggers the solenoid, but the cybertruck doesn’t even have that.
My manual door handle has the outside handle, the lock, the inside handle, the electronic lock, the linkages between the lock and the outside handle, the linkages between the lock and the inside handle, the linkages between the lock and the latch, then the latch. There’s way more machining and assembly involved in a manual lock and door handle than an electronic lock, and that machining has to be way more precise.
That’s valid. I guess that by “so the mechanical linkages” etc. I was thinking of what actually holds the door shut securely in the vehicle frame. You still need a mechanical override for the solenoid actuator, but I can see that being cheaper overall after reading your description.
Is there some evidence that the electric handles are cheaper? You still need all of the same mechanical latches and linkages, but now add electric actuators and wiring. Intuitively it doesn’t seem like it would be cheaper to me.
Electric door handles don’t need all the linkages, it’s literally a solenoid that’s attached directly to the latch and that solenoid is both the door latch and the door lock. There’s only 2 moving parts, the solenoid and the latch itself. The model 3, S, X and Y have an additional moving part that is the actual handle that triggers the solenoid, but the cybertruck doesn’t even have that.
My manual door handle has the outside handle, the lock, the inside handle, the electronic lock, the linkages between the lock and the outside handle, the linkages between the lock and the inside handle, the linkages between the lock and the latch, then the latch. There’s way more machining and assembly involved in a manual lock and door handle than an electronic lock, and that machining has to be way more precise.
That’s valid. I guess that by “so the mechanical linkages” etc. I was thinking of what actually holds the door shut securely in the vehicle frame. You still need a mechanical override for the solenoid actuator, but I can see that being cheaper overall after reading your description.