Compared to gas cars EVs are quieter overall, but they tend to make some more noise (motors, inverters) in the 1-5kHz range. Human hearing is particularly sensitive to that range for evolutionary reasons (babies crying, etc.)
EVs also lack the masking effect of an ICE engine. Imagine hearing nails on a chalkboard in a quiet room. Awful. Then music or sound that you like drowning it out with volume. Much better.
Lastly, ICEV NVH (noise vibration harshness) is largely a solved problem at this point while some EV NVH challenges lack a point of reference. I had a new Q5 loaner for my e-tron and the engine was not only pleasant to listen to, but extremely muted. I almost didn't hear it. Some of these new NVH challenges have been described in press releases from Audi and Mercedes.
My experience:
I have driven each of these cars for at least one year and they all bothered me to no end. Drove plenty of ICE vehicles in-between, up to a week at a time, and they were fine. My ears felt totally at ease. Now I'm not beyond admitting that this could be psychosomatic, but it's really a huge stress. I want more than anything to drive EVs because they are perfect to me in every other way, including the road trips. Something about my ears and EVs just don't seem to mix.
Anyone else experience this?
EVs also lack the masking effect of an ICE engine. Imagine hearing nails on a chalkboard in a quiet room. Awful. Then music or sound that you like drowning it out with volume. Much better.
Lastly, ICEV NVH (noise vibration harshness) is largely a solved problem at this point while some EV NVH challenges lack a point of reference. I had a new Q5 loaner for my e-tron and the engine was not only pleasant to listen to, but extremely muted. I almost didn't hear it. Some of these new NVH challenges have been described in press releases from Audi and Mercedes.
My experience:
- Tesla Model 3. Amazing vehicle aside for some excessive wind noise. Pleasant as anything below 45 mph.
- Audi e-tron. Suffered from "body boom" which is a low-frequency droning noise produced by the chassis when driving over slightly imperfect roads, due in part to how the rear motor is mounted to the subframe (innumerable posts about this issue in the Model Y and e-tron forums, and some technical papers from the e-tron NVH engineer). The result is ear pressure and fatigue. Supremely uncomfortable to the very few that experience it.
- Mini Cooper SE. High frequency motor noise that was largely absent from the Model 3. It sounds like a Mini jet turbine with the windows down. Somewhat audible at highway speeds. Not the pleasant motor whine from a Tesla that we all love.
I have driven each of these cars for at least one year and they all bothered me to no end. Drove plenty of ICE vehicles in-between, up to a week at a time, and they were fine. My ears felt totally at ease. Now I'm not beyond admitting that this could be psychosomatic, but it's really a huge stress. I want more than anything to drive EVs because they are perfect to me in every other way, including the road trips. Something about my ears and EVs just don't seem to mix.
Anyone else experience this?
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