Collision power loss leads to door lock failure? YMIN supercapacitors guard the last line of defense.

On August 22, 2026, Xinhua News Agency issued an announcement: several automakers were recalling vehicles because the interior emergency mechanical release handles were similar in color to the surrounding trim, making them difficult to identify and operate. In extreme scenarios—such as a severe collision causing a failure of the vehicle’s low-voltage electrical system—this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape or prevent rescuers outside from opening them.

In accordance with the *Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automotive Products* and their implementing measures, the automakers filed recall plans with the State Administration for Market Regulation. The remedial measures include affixing warning labels to the affected vehicles free of charge and using Over-the-Air (OTA) technology to update software, thereby optimizing the central unlocking logic and window-lowering strategies.

This solution is precise and effective, serving as the first line of defense.

However, a more fundamental question remains: even if the handle is made highly visible, if the low-voltage system has failed, can the door actually be opened?
Locating the handle is only the first step; the door must also be able to open.

Features in new energy vehicles—such as electronic door locks, flush-mounted (hidden) door handles, and central unlocking systems—rely on the vehicle’s low-voltage power supply. If a severe collision cuts off power to the low-voltage system, all electronic unlocking functions will instantly become inoperable.

While OTA updates can indeed optimize unlocking logic, they rely on the system having power. If the main power supply is cut off during a collision, even the best software cannot transmit the necessary commands.

This is not a remote, hypothetical scenario; it is a critical edge case that must be addressed in crash safety design.

“Being unable to locate the door handle” and “being unable to open the door by pulling the handle” are issues on entirely different levels. The former can be remedied with visual markers or OTA updates; the latter requires a hardware redundancy solution that operates independently of the main power supply.

The CPM Module: A “Hard” Fail-Safe for Power Loss

The CPM (Crash Redundancy Module) was designed precisely for this purpose: when the main power supply fails, it utilizes a built-in supercapacitor to instantly release energy and actuate the door lock mechanism.

To function effectively the moment power is lost, the energy storage component must meet three criteria: millisecond-level response, independence from chemical reactions, and reliability throughout the vehicle’s entire lifecycle. The component that meets these requirements is not a battery, but a supercapacitor.

Supercapacitors utilize physical energy storage, offering millisecond-level charge/discharge capabilities, a wide operating temperature range (-40°C to 105°C), a cycle life exceeding 500,000 cycles, and no risk of fire or explosion—making them naturally suited as a redundant safety power source.

Here is how the CPM module operates:

During normal vehicle operation, the CPM module manages the supercapacitor via a charge/discharge circuit, handling intelligent charging and voltage balancing to ensure it remains fully charged and ready for use. The instant a collision causes a loss of main power (KL30), the CPM module responds within milliseconds, automatically switching to supercapacitor power to supply the MCU and the mechanical lock drive circuitry. Upon receiving the collision signal, the MCU activates a high-side switch, instantly discharging energy to the door lock motor, child safety lock, and door handle motor to execute the unlocking sequence.

The entire process is fully automated, requiring no action from the vehicle’s occupants.

CPM-Specific Selection: Specifications and Verification

Recommended Selection for YMIN CPM Supercapacitor Modules

In CPM (Critical Power Module) applications, an engineer’s primary concern is not merely “high capacity,” but whether the system will function reliably at critical moments. Ymin supercapacitors address this need through several key attributes:

Low ESR and High Power: ESR as low as 10mΩ, delivering high instantaneous output with minimal voltage drop.

Standby Voltage Retention: Low leakage current ensures sufficient energy remains even after prolonged standby periods.

Series Consistency: Capacitance tolerance ≤5% across multiple cells, preventing overvoltage failure in individual units.

Automotive-Grade Reliability: AEC-Q200 certified and manufactured under IATF16949 quality management systems.

Quality Assurance: Fully automated production lines ensuring consistency and traceability throughout the entire process.

CPM requirements for supercapacitors represent a shift from merely “meeting specifications” to ensuring a “verifiable success rate for safety-critical operations.” The core value of Ymin supercapacitors lies in translating “energy storage parameters” into “operational certainty” following a collision or power loss: low ESR guarantees instantaneous power, low-temperature performance ensures availability after long standby periods, and consistency/traceability enable the reliable deployment of multi-cell modules.

From “Passive Protection” to “Active Escape Assurance”

Historically, automotive safety discussions focused on airbags, body structures, and active braking—measures designed to prevent accidents from escalating. The recent recall was mandated under the *Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automotive Products* and their implementation rules, establishing a clear bottom line: automakers must resolve the issue.

The supercapacitor-based CPM solution provides a robust technical safeguard that goes beyond this baseline, enabling regulatory requirements to be effectively implemented.

Moving from passive protection to active escape capabilities: regulations set the baseline, while technology provides the confidence to meet it.

When the low-voltage system fails, the supercapacitor serves as the safeguard for that “final door” to safety.

[Contact Information]

Official Website: www.ymin.com

Product Hotline: 400-900-1922

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