With the popularity of electric vehicles, hidden door handles have gradually become a standard feature of electric vehicles. It not only gives the vehicle smooth lines and beautiful appearance, but also effectively reduces wind resistance and improves cruising range. However, in the extremely cold winter, the problem of hidden door handles being frozen occurs frequently, which troubles many consumers. In response to this problem, we have compiled some solutions and preventive measures to help consumers better solve this problem.

（图源麦格纳官网）

1. Solution:

1. Increase the power of the door handle telescopic motor to break the ice: 

The more common method isBy controlling the door handle motor through PWM, different power outputs can be achieved. When the door handle is frozen, increase the power and try again.Or when it detects that the ambient temperature outside the car is low, it can directly use the high-power output to control the door handle motor.

PWM控制门把手电机破冰 （图源：知乎 汽车小子）

2. Remote preheating: 

Start the preheating function through the remote APP or mobile phone application to increase the temperature inside the car to defrost the ice and snow around the windows and door handles.

（图源：麦格纳官网）

3. Use heated door handles: 

When a drop in ambient temperature is detected, the heating function is automatically activated to effectively prevent the door handle from being covered in ice and snow, ensuring that the door can be opened easily in cold weather.

（图源：ITW官微）

4. Warm water to thaw and break ice: 

One of the easiest ways to fix a frozen doorknob is to use warm water. Use warm water and pour it gently around the door handle to melt the ice and snow. Make sure the water is at the right temperature to avoid damaging your vehicle's paint. This method may take some time, but is usually effective.

（图源：路虎揽胜星脉）

5. De-icing treatment: 

If the car door is unfortunately firmly frozen,Press hard on the front of the door handle to try to loosen the accumulated ice; around the door handle, tap lightly with your fist to use resonance to remove ice. There are also a variety of de-icing sprays available for purchase that are specifically designed to solve the problem of frozen door handles.

（图源：特斯拉官网）

6. Plastic scraper or shovel:

If you don't have de-icing spray, you can try using a plastic scraper or shovel to gently and carefully scrape the ice and snow away from around the door handle. Avoid using sharp or hard objects to avoid scratching the paint.

（图源：跟我视驾公众号）

2. Preventive measures

In the northern region, electric vehicle owners often face the problem of hidden door handles being frozen, especially during the alternating seasons of autumn and winter and throughout the long winter. This problem may occur after washing the car or if it is parked outdoors for a long time. In order to avoid this problem, here are some effective measures to prevent door handles from being frozen. Let’s take a look!

1. The hidden door handle adds user-configurable items

Add the opening and closing settings of the hidden door handle to the large screen. When set to off, even if the car owner locks the car, the door handle will not be retracted. In this way, there is no difference between the hidden door handle and the traditional door handle. Even if it's frozen, you can reach out and pull it away.

（图源：理想L9）

2. The hidden door handle has an automatic extension function

Just like windows that automatically close on rainy days, hidden door handles can also automatically extend when encountering cold weather to prevent freezing.

• For example, the rain sensor Q and the outside temperature detection probe of the air conditioner can be used to comprehensively determine whether a freezing rain will occur. If the conditions are met, then the door handle can be controlled to extend.

  

  （通过传感器控制门把手伸出）

  
  

• A humidity sensor can be added inside the door handle. If the outside temperature detection probe of the air conditioner detects extremely low weather temperatures, the door handle can be controlled to extend to prevent it from being frozen.

3. Apply antifreeze

Using low-temperature lubricants or silicone-based lubricants, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lubricants, can inhibit moisture freezing and maintain the flexibility of the door handle's mechanical structure. Or use WD-40 (a metal care agent) to coat the inside of the hidden door handle to prevent freezing to a certain extent.

（图源：知乎：北方车厘子）

4. Clean door handles regularly:

Regularly clean the water stains and debris on the surface of the door handle to avoid freezing the door handle due to water stains freezing.

（福特蒙迪欧 图源：抖音玉溪安特福特）

5. Use a door handle cover:

You can use a door handle protective cover or soaked toilet paper on the door handle in winter, which can effectively prevent the door handle from being covered in ice and snow while keeping your hands warm.

（图源：抖音 ）

6. Indoor parking or garage parking:

Where possible, choose indoor or garage parking to reduce the time your vehicle is exposed to the cold.

(图源：抖音）

7. Check the door handle system regularly:

Regularly check the working condition of the door handle system to ensure that the motor and sensor are functioning properly and that the seal is good to prevent freezing.

（图源：抖音）

8. Pay attention to the weather forecast:

In cold weather, especially if snow or icy rain is possible, take precautions ahead of time, such as parking your vehicle indoors or using coverings to cover door handles.

‍（图源：抖音）

3. Summary:

Through the above methods and preventive measures, users can effectively solve and prevent the problem of hidden door handles of electric vehicles being frozen in winter, thereby improving the reliability and user experience of the vehicle.

As hidden door handles gradually become standard equipment for new energy vehicles, we should also pay attention to the safety and practicality of the car. I believe that with the continuous exploration of automobile manufacturers, hidden door handles will be able to get rid of a single design in the future and provide customized options for users in different regions. Manufacturers can design door handles with better performance based on different usage scenarios and innovate new materials that can work properly in severe cold environments to provide better solutions to consumers.

The article is compiled online and will be deleted if there is any infringement.

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The original article was posted on the WeChat official account "Smart Car Club."Read this article to understand the ice-breaking methods and preventive measures for hidden car door handles freezing in winter.