US Lawmakers To Force Quiet EVs To Make Noises
One of the joys of driving an electric car is the silence around town, but the American authorities have decided you’re not allowed to have that any more.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ruled that from 2019 all new electric and hybrid vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000lb must make noises below 19mph.
It says it’s concerned for blind people crossing the road, estimating that 2400 pedestrian injuries will be prevented every year. Hmmm.
But that does mean that streets could become a confusion of different kinds of noises at different volumes, different pitches and at all sorts of frequencies. Paracetamol sales could skyrocket.
So, now manufacturers will need to decide how to make their EVs audible without turning them into the single most annoying thing in the world. We wish them good luck with that.
Source: Jalopnik
Comments
Man our government is getting more stupid every day
Imagine you are blind and about to cross the street. You don’t hear anything so you assume its safe. Them bam… Mowed down by an EV. That is why they have to make some noise.
I hope they they use the same sound for every car. I like this sound from Audi- https://youtu.be/Pn1xbZvS9CI?t=3m51s
I admit… That sounds badass.
That is a good sound
How about, BRAPBRAPBRAPBRAPBRAAAAAAAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAP SUUUTUTUTUTUTU kind of noise?
it would be cool, but at the same time a lot of us would be disappointed when we turn our heads
They should put The Jetsons car sound. Will be so funny.
Yes!
I think it should sound like gunshots…
The blind will now have had Heart attacks. Thanks man…
Great idea. I live near Baltimore.
Slamming recycling bins is enough for me. Those sound like gunshots. Same with ALS. But I like ALS! :)
Put this thing under your car and it will sound like a GT-R
Lol
Good one!
Comment of the week. Period.
Wow. I thought I was the only one thinking it sounds like a trumpet lol
Loud pipes saves lives…
The renault Zoe sounds like a spaceship when driving :D That’s pretty cool
How about this?
Put a speaker outside the car, and the speaker will produce an engine like sound
(stupid idea but whateves)
[DELETED]
It’s not really stupid, some manufacturers (Such as Fisker) have already done that. They have speakers where the exhaust pipes would normally be, and those speakers make warbling noises.
make the owner download custom sound? so you could have an X-Wing star fighter or a duck’s quack each time the wheel spins or just whatever your imagination want’s it to be… Honda fans could even have more realistic farts so they don’t miss their Civics too bad
Inevitably, someone WILL download the sound to a GPMG…
I know I really want my electric cars to sound like a lightning storm.