An e-latch system replaces the conventional door latch/unlatch mechanism with an electronic control that opens and closes doors smoothly with no wasted movements, like a sliding shoji paper door. To open a door when getting in, simply press the switch on the inside of the door handle while pulling the handle towards you in the usual way. When getting out, the door opens in a single action by pressing a switch while holding the pull handle. If the battery power supply is cut, for instance due to a collision, the doors can be opened using a manual release handle.