If you get locked on the outside of an EV with a dead low-voltage battery and door latches that need power to work, getting in is inconvenient, but follow a few steps that apply to most cars and you'll regain access in no time. When the vehicle's 12-volt battery dies while you're inside, the situation becomes more challenging, and it could potentially leave you feeling trapped.

However, you shouldn't panic. Manufacturers have realized this can turn into a serious safety issue and have fitted their vehicles with backup mechanical handles to allow you to open the doors from the inside with no power. It pays to not only look into this for your specific vehicle but also take the time to test it out—in some cars, it's very easy and obvious how to open the doors, while in others it's a bit tricker.

There was an incident in 2021 when a Tesla Model Y lost power and caught fire while on the move, trapping its driver inside as it was going up in flames. The driver said the windows didn't work, nor did the buttons to get the doors to pop open. He resorted to kicking out the driver's side window so that he could climb outside, not knowing all Teslas have backup mechanical door handles for the front doors, which you can pull to open the doors even when the car has malfunctioned or has no power.

Other reports describe situations where occupants in EVs with e-latches, particularly those in Teslas, became trapped inside their vehicles after they lost power, but they weren't in immediate danger and eventually found their way out.

All Teslas have easily accessible mechanical handles that you can pull to open the front doors. They are located in front of the window switch panel, and they are easy to spot and operate.

If you're in the back of a Tesla, the mechanical door release mechanisms are strangely tricky to locate. In the Model S, you find it by looking for cutouts in the carpeting under the seat, and moving the cutout part out of the way will reveal tabs that you can pull to open the doors.