Should EVs Make Artificial Sounds at Low Speeds?

[vfx]

Big news though I have no reference.

Apparently it is illegal to add sound to an automobile. Horns are OK but a continuous sound is not. Federal law.

 

[TEG]

Lots and lots of documents:
NFB - Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety (CAPS)

 

[TEG]

NoiseOFF - The Coalition Against Noise Pollution - Electric Vehicles

 

[vfx]

Philips develops LED crosswalk that warns of silent traffic — Autoblog Green

 

[vfx]

By the numbers.
The Truth Behind the Study Finding Hybrids More Likely to Hit Pedestrians and Bicycles : TreeHugger

Six blind pedestrians were killed by moving vehicles in 2007. None of those vehicles was a hybrid. But 6 is too small a sample from which to draw conclusions.

 

[vfx]

NoiseOFF - The Coalition Against Noise Pollution - Electric Vehicles

This paragraph:

Even if artificial vehicle sound is mandated on EVs, there are differences in sound energy. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates the use of back-up alarms on trucks for safety. However, the intense piercing noise emitted from current back-up alarms is a noise hazard for workers and a nuisance for nearby residents. Improved back-up alarms emit a broadband sound (white sound) that dissipates over a discrete distance reducing noise pollution. OSHA has never acted to mandate broadband sound in spite of repeated calls to do so. As NHTSA is oblivious to the public health issues of noise pollution, representation from noise control advocates are shut out of the dialog.

This is frightening. It's like the TSA. No one wants to be the person who stops the removal for a billion shoes a year. Just in case something happens.

We really have to fight this before it happens. There will be no going back.

 

[stopcrazypp]

By the numbers.
The Truth Behind the Study Finding Hybrids More Likely to Hit Pedestrians and Bicycles : TreeHugger

From what I can see there are a couple of points. First, these statistics are not presented in terms of vehicle miles and if hybrid owners drive more than typical car owners (likely) it will skew the results. Another thing not controlled for is if hybrids have more contact with bicyclist/peds. Another thing is the most popular hybrids (Prius, Civic, Insight) have visibility problems (both rear and front-side visibility).

 

[vfx]

Woo Hoo!

Volt has a warble!

[youtube]EmyPigfwju4[/youtube]

 

[dpeilow]

The secondary horn is the best compromise I think. It puts the onus on the driver to use it (which we seem to be happy with) and its presence makes it harder for lawmakers to insist on having the permanent noise that some groups have pushed for. Good to see GM have gone this route and not caved in.

 

[vfx]

Are you listening Tesla?

 

[doug]

Good to see GM have gone this route and not caved in.

Indeed. This warble is the same sound that was in that dog and pony show video the Volt folks did with a bunch blind people in a parking lot. From that vid it looks like the sound also is tied to the headlights as it was in the EV1. Glad to see they remember some of those good ideas.

Does anyone know if that warble is from a separate horn, or is it generated by modulating the standard horn?

 

[TEG]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Te...strian_Warning:_Testing_At_Warwick_University

 

[Tdave]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Te...strian_Warning:_Testing_At_Warwick_University

What's this about?

...disconcerting for drivers to accelerate and not hear anything.

Find me just one Roadster owner who would say that.

 

[SByer]

What's this about?

Find me just one Roadster owner who would say that.

I double dare them! If anything, I now cringe at the sound of a big noisy ICE accelerating. All that sound and fury signifying nothing!

 

[TEG]

I now cringe at the sound of a big noisy ICE accelerating. All that sound and fury signifying nothing!

Ha!... Well I suppose it signifies all the wasted energy. The majority of that burning gasoline is getting turned into noise, heat and vibration instead of forward motion.

 

[malcolm]

EU Commission stuff:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_...wledge/pdf/bfs2007_sn-kfv-1-3-pedestrians.pdf

Can't find anything recent about calls from the Commission to legislate for artifical sound for pedestrians. But there is this:

The Regulation also defines requirements on the practical use of electric cars, such as giving an indication to the driver that the electric engine is switched on, which otherwise cannot be heard and could therefore cause unwanted starting of the vehicle.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRelease...format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Which doesn't really TIE in with this story TEG posted above:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Electric-Cars-May-Use-Spaceship-Sounds-As-Pedestrian-Warning-Testing-At-Warwick-University/Article/201005115625019?lpos=Technology_First_Technology_Article_Teaser_Region__1&lid=ARTICLE_15625019_Electric_Cars_May_Use_Spaceship_Sounds_As_Pedestrian_Warning%3A_Testing_At_Warwick_University

 

[DaveD]

Ha!... Well I suppose it signifies all the wasted energy. The majority of that burning gasoline is getting turned into noise, heat and vibration instead of forward motion.

Periodically, I'll have a driver pull up alongside me and deliberately rev their engine. Besides the laughter it evokes from me to see/hear their obvious (male?) insecurity manifested, it also reminds me of all the energy they're wasting for no useful purpose.

 

[vfx]

When trains went from coal burning steam to diesel electric, people claimed passengers would miss the chug chug sound too.

 

[Tdave]

The Regulation also defines requirements on the practical use of electric cars, such as giving an indication to the driver that the electric engine is switched on, which otherwise cannot be heard and could therefore cause unwanted starting of the vehicle.

What does that even mean? What is an electric engine? Do they mean electric motor? What does it mean for it to be on? Do they mean that the car is in gear? What does unwanted starting of the vehicle mean? Do they mean unwanted movement of the vehicle?

Oh my.

 

[Todd Burch]

Electric car noise mandate

Gotta admit, I don't like the idea of a mandate to make electric cars noisier...

I do tend to wonder if this is another attempt by the auto companies at trying to slow the development of EVs.