Australia to miss out on lifesaving vehicle escape tech
Zeekr, a new electric vehicle brand, has developed a safety device that allows occupants to escape from a submerged vehicle.
But the technology will only be offered in left-hand-drive markets, such as China, for now.
.
Zeekr's decision to deny Australian drivers new safety tech comes as a rising number of motorists fall victim to floodwater.
Dr Francois Flocard, director of industry research at UNSW's Water Research Laboratory, said 'the number of fatalities in vehicles has increased in the last 15 years'.
'The feature you mentioned is interesting and definitely can help people', Dr Francois said.
'By the time water crosses the window, it's already very dangerous and almost too late.'
Zeekr's tech a world first.
It works with a lever tucked away near the driver's knees. A quick tug of a cable activates a window-breaking hammer within the driver's door that strikes the bottom of the window glass.
Once triggered, the hammer can displace up to 3,000 newtons of force to shatter the window.
This is approximately 33 times the impact strength of a typical safety hammer, equivalent to the force of five adults simultaneously smashing into the window.
More than 100,000 vehicles across Australia are equipped with electric door handles which may fail to operate when submerged in water.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that not all vehicles have a manual door release mechanism as a backup in the event of a power failure.
Power-operated doors use a car's 12-volt battery – not the high-voltage battery used to power electric cars – to enable occupants to exit the vehicle with the press of a button.
If the car's 12V battery dies or gets disconnected after an impact, occupants must use a manual door release function to exit the vehicle quickly.
Vehicle safety body ANCAP recently added vehicle submergence to its safety assessment criteria, a move aimed at helping first responders access trapped occupants and ensuring safe egress during flooding events.
Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP's chief executive, said, 'in recent years, we've seen a number of significant flooding events across Australia'.
'The number of new vehicle models fitted with electric door opening is also increasing,' she said.
'Combined, these aspects highlight the strong need for this emergency access capability to help prevent unnecessary loss of lives.'
When a car is submerged, water pressure makes it nearly impossible to open the doors. Additionally, electric door and window switches may also fail.
ANCAP awards points in the Adult Occupant Protection assessment for vehicles equipped with effective submergence countermeasures.
Manufacturers may offer alternative methods to open windows if standard measures are not demonstrated.
Emergency glass hammers are an alternative means of egress that car manufacturers can opt to implement during ANCAP testing.
Professor Giesbrecht, a world-renowned expert in vehicle submersions based in Canada, said the biggest danger isn't water – it's time.
'You get people who are awake and functional who drown because they don't know how to escape,' he said.
Many people make the mistake of believing their car will protect them or that waiting for help is the safest option.
But in a flood event, even emergency services can't respond in time.
So Zeekr's groundbreaking solution offers a potential lifeline in these situations.
Unfortunately, the brand can't justify a compelling business case to introduce this safety technology in Australia.
And it is a decision that highlights a concerning trend in the current automotive market.
Car makers are engaged in an intense EV price war in Australia due to excessive production levels.
Unfortunately, this means every dollar counts, and manufacturers can't always justify including features that push up prices for consumers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
22 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Rare Glen Iris sale tops weekend auction results
A grand Edwardian time capsule in Glen Iris has topped Melbourne's auction results for the week, selling for $3.45m in a tightly contested showdown. The home at 4 Dorrington Ave attracted a flurry of interest thanks to its unspoilt character, with competition ultimately pushing it above its revised $2.9m-$3.1m price hopes. Marshall White Stonnington's Mark Harris said the result reflected just how rare homes of this calibre were in the tightly held Dorrington Estate. 'We haven't seen an unrenovated period property like this come up in the area for decades,' Mr Harris said. 'The block, the mature trees, the craftsmanship, it had that sense of soul buyers are desperate for, and the opportunity to renovate and extend at the rear made it irresistible.' The property hadn't changed hands since 1973, marking the end of a 51-year chapter for its long-time custodians. Mr Harris said buyers were drawn to its authenticity, with original marble fireplaces, stained-glass windows, and decorative ceilings all intact, but crucially, not over-renovated. 'It had been updated in parts, like the kitchen and bathroom, but the heritage bones remained untouched,' he said. 'That gave buyers a clear vision of what it could become.' The eventual buyers plan to preserve the home's grand facade and renovate sensitively, something Mr Harris said meant the world to the outgoing owners. 'It was emotional, no doubt. But there was a deep sense of peace knowing the next family wanted to honour the home's story, not erase it.' The Glen Iris sale comes as demand for blue-chip period homes on large blocks continues to outstrip supply, with prestige buyers quick to act on listings with location, land and legacy. 'The prestige market is still strong, especially for homes with land, charm and potential,' Mr Harris said. 'And if the Reserve Bank moves on rate cuts, we'll likely see even more activity at this level.'
ABC News
29 minutes ago
- ABC News
Half of Canberra's bankruptcy filings last year were by strata managers chasing fees, inquiry hears
Half of all forced bankruptcies in the ACT last financial year were a result of strata companies seeking money from unit owners, with the territory figure well above the national average. An inquiry into strata management in Canberra has heard that some unit owners struggling to pay levies are ending up bankrupt, with advocates decrying a lack of financial hardship options. The ACT Legislative Assembly inquiry is examining the effectiveness of current laws relating to the powers, qualifications and licences of strata managers, conflicts of interest, fees, and decision-making models. It is also looking at whether an ACT strata commissioner is needed. The inquiry heard 50 per cent of all bankruptcy matters in the ACT Federal Court last financial year were filed by strata managers — that's compared to 12 per cent nationally. Community organisation Care, which advocates for people experiencing financial hardship, told the inquiry it had seen unit owners "end up losing their homes" over an inability to afford strata levies. "We are seeing alarming figures where people are being forced into bankruptcy for very little arrears," Care solicitor Tawanda Mukamuri said. "This is just leading to homelessness, mental health issues, and other challenges. "This is a very difficult situation." Mr Mukamuri said the Unit Titles (Management) Act 2011 had failed owners in financial hardship as there were no protections to defer or pay strata costs in instalments. Care wants Canberra unit owners to have the right to request affordable payment plans. "And if the strata management refuses the payment plan, we want to see an external dispute resolution mechanism, " Mr Mukamuri added. "Because there are no options for payment arrangements, once a contribution notice is issued and a home owner defaults, the next step is the matter is taken to debt collectors or to lawyers, and the lawyers just proceed to take the matters to court." Mr Mukamuri said financial issues could quite quickly overwhelm households if people were dealing with job losses, health issues or other costly setbacks. Care financial counsellor Leasa Mayes said she had heard from unit owners who were knocked back by strata managers when they pleaded for a payment plan. Care told the committee inquiry it believed strata managers resisted requests for payment plans to avoid added administration, and that once the matter was with legal firms for debt recovery, they were incentivised by charging fees for legal action. Ms Mayes said $2,500, or about two payment notices, was a typical amount of arrears that would prompt strata management to engage debt collectors or take legal action. "There's no requirement on strata to follow up [notices] before taking legal action and we think that's unfair," Ms Mayes said. Ms Mayes said those already struggling were often charged hefty fees. "We saw an [ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal] order recently that had a strata levies debt of $2,500 and the additional fees came to $1,000 on top," Ms Mayes explained. "That was a mixture of appearance fees for the debt collector, allowable fees, which we're not 100 per cent sure what that is, interest … and the ACAT filing fees." Care has also called for legislated caps on levy increases, similar to existing ACT laws that restrict the amount and frequency of rent rises for tenants. "The fees do go up and they can go up without notice," Ms Mayes said about strata levies. "[The owners] might find that this quarter it's $800, but a decision happens or a maintenance problem is identified, and the next quarter they might get a bill for $1,500. "It's very hard for people to budget." The inquiry is ongoing and a date has not been set for the committee to report back.
News.com.au
33 minutes ago
- News.com.au
New apartment tower bound for $64m Brisbane site as housing crisis worsens
A major developer has paid $64.5m for a Brisbane riverfront site with plans to build more than 200 apartments at a time when the nation's fastest-growing city is crying out for more housing. It comes as new figures show construction timeframes have ballooned by 58 per cent in Queensland, and the state is still about 100,000 homes short of meeting its share of the 1.2 million national target by 2029. Consolidated Properties Group (CPG) has bought the 9,368 sqm site, featuring 47m of direct river frontage, at 47 Skyring Terrace, Newstead, in an off-market deal from Mirvac Group. Zac Efron's Aussie long lunch haunt is on the market Zoned for mixed use, the site has potential for up to 42,000 sqm of floor space and a maximum building height of 25 storeys under the Brisbane City Plan. While many private developers are struggling to find a builder to take on their projects, CPG has managed to sign Hutchinson Builders to deliver the apartments. CPG CEO and Chairman Don O'Rorke said the Newstead site offered a rare opportunity to deliver a 'super-premium' luxury residential apartment building in a prime inner-city location. 'Sites like this are as rare as it gets,' Mr O'Rorke said. 'We thought Monarch might be a one-off, but at Newstead we've been fortunate to have the opportunity to create another iconic residential address right in the heart of the city on the Brisbane River. This will be something elevated in every sense — something truly special.' It comes as the federal government's National Housing Accord prepares to mark its first-year anniversary, with the latest ABS figures showing Queensland has only approved 34,301 homes in the past 11 months. Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) analysis of recent ABS data shows, on average, between 2014 and 2024, the time to build a home in Queensland increased from six months in 2014 to more than 10 months in 2024 — a 58 per cent jump, with housing construction material costs also rising by 58 per cent. Brisbane architect Nick Symonds, Director of MAS Architecture Studio, said the demand for high-density housing was high, but the delivery pipeline was struggling to keep pace. 'These aren't townhouses or boutique builds,' Mr Symonds said. 'We're talking about substantial residential projects with hundreds of apartments, and developers can't find a builder willing or able to take them on under current conditions. 'Tier-one contractors have stepped away from major residential developments — not because they lack interest, but because these projects take too long, carry too much risk, and no longer stack up commercially compared to government work.' Mr Symonds said Olympic-related infrastructure and major public works were absorbing much of the available construction workforce. 'The Olympics is creating thousands of jobs, which is great, but it's pulling trades away from residential construction at the worst possible time,' he said. CPG plans to lodge a development application later this year with award-winning architects, Woods Bagot, who are already working on concept plans. CPG head of residential James MacGinley said the development would include a mix of boutique riverfront villas and 2-and 3-bedroom apartments, with north-east views up the river towards Hamilton Hill. 'It is peerless and there is no better development site in Brisbane,' Mr MacGinley said. 'We plan to do it justice and deliver a signature building for the city.' Colliers Queensland residential director Brendan Hogan, who negotiated the offmarket purchase with Troy Linnane, said demand for prestige development opportunities in Brisbane was outpacing supply. 'Opportunities like this simply don't come up anymore. This is the last of its kind on the Newstead waterfront and arguably the best-located residential site in the city,' Mr Hogan said. 'We're seeing exceptional demand in the premium apartment market, with 'off-the-plan' riverfront apartments achieving prices over $35,000 per square metre of net saleable area. 'The surge in apartment prices is largely driven by the demand from owner-occupiers who are seeking premium and larger apartment stock, which has accounted for the majority of sales in the market over the past two years.' The site acquisition reflects broader supply-side pressure in Brisbane's residential pipeline. Population forecasts show Brisbane will grow by more than 500,000 people during the next decade — faster than both Sydney and Melbourne — and inner-Brisbane is expected to face a shortfall of over 14,000 new apartments in the next four years alone, according to SQM Research. 'We know Brisbane is the nation's fastest-growing city with unlimited potential and we're building for that future,' Mr O'Rorke said.
