Modular individually operable vehicle door

A method for operating a vehicle door, the method comprising:

• providing a vehicle door system comprising:
• first and second vehicle doors, each of the first and second vehicle doors including:
• a hinge module configured for being mounted to a vehicle body;
• a door module configured for being mounted to the hinge module and further configured for closing a door opening defined by the vehicle body, wherein the door module includes an embedded pillar structure disposed at a front or rear edge thereof;
• wherein the hinge module includes a hinge bracket configured to be mounted to the vehicle body and arms pivotally attached thereto;
• wherein the hinge module further includes a brace pivotally attached to the arms, wherein the brace is moveable between a closed position and an open position in response to movement of the arms relative to the hinge bracket;
• wherein the door module is attached to the brace via a plurality of corresponding attachment points between the brace and the door module;
• wherein the door module includes a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism configured for latching with the vehicle body;
• wherein the first vehicle door mates with the second vehicle door and defines an interface therebetween, wherein the embedded pillars of the first and second doors are disposed adjacent each other at the interface, wherein each of the first and second vehicle doors are individually operable relative to each other such that the first door may be opened and closed while the second door remains latched with the vehicle body, and the second door may be opened and closed while the first door remains latched with the vehicle body;
• attaching the first and second hinge modules to the vehicle body;
• attaching the first door module to the first hinge module and attaching the second door module to the second hinge module;
• engaging the latch mechanism of each of the door modules to the vehicle body when the door is installed in a closed position;
• joining the first and second door modules together at the interface defined between adjacent front and rear edges of the first and the second modules, wherein the embedded pillars of the first and second door modules are disposed adjacent each other;
• opening and closing the first door module when the second door module remains in a latched position with the vehicle body;
• and
• opening and closing the second door module when the first door module remains in a latched position with the vehicle body.

A system for opening and closing a door relative to a vehicle body, the system comprising:

• first and second vehicle doors, each of the first and second vehicle doors including:
• a hinge module configured for being mounted to a vehicle body;
• a door module configured for being mounted to the hinge module and further configured for closing a door opening defined by the vehicle body, wherein the door module includes an embedded pillar structure disposed at a front or rear edge thereof;
• wherein the first vehicle door mates with the second vehicle door and defines an interface therebetween, wherein the embedded pillars of the first and second doors are disposed adjacent each other at the interface
• wherein, for each of the first and second vehicle doors, the hinge module includes a hinge bracket configured to be mounted to the vehicle body and a brace attached to the door module, wherein the brace is coupled to the hinge bracket and moveable relative to the hinge bracket between a closed position and an open position;
• wherein, for each of the first and second vehicle doors, the door module is not directly hinged to the vehicle body, and wherein the brace is pivotally attached to at least one arm, and the at least one arm is pivotally attached to the hinge bracket.