Should EVs Make Artificial Sounds at Low Speeds?

[GDH]

We should be able to pick the sound. I'd even like to be able to switch sounds....like from a Lamborghini to a older VW Bug.

 

[brianman]

We should be able to pick the sound. I'd even like to be able to switch sounds....like from a Lamborghini to a older VW Bug.

I loathe the idea of the general public (i.e. other people) being able to pick their sounds. I hear enough of their radios to know they will pick the most annoying (and sometimes hazardous) cacophony imaginable.

 

[JRP3]

Agree, it would get obnoxious, and probably be counter productive. What if someone picked the sound of a puppy barking, and a blind person went to pet it?

 

[jerry33]

Once it becomes common, it will be ignored as background noise anyway. Another useless government regulation that costs us money.

 

[SCW-Greg]

Can we delete this thread already?!?!

Nobody wants this, so why do we have 79 pages of debate on it? There's enough noise pollution in the world. Lets get back to the peace and quiet sounds of nature and move on!

 

[jerry33]

Nobody wants this, so why do we have 79 pages of debate on it?

Because people love to vent about dumb laws that are supported by special interest groups.

 

[AnOutsider]

Agree, it would get obnoxious, and probably be counter productive. What if someone picked the sound of a puppy barking, and a blind person went to pet it?

...not sure I'd pet a barking dog,

 

[JRP3]

I must admit that I'm very aware how quite my car is when pulling out of a parking space, especially if in between two larger vehicles. I can't see who might be coming until I start to pull out and they can't hear me so I move very carefully. Others might not be as cautious. I would not mind a couple of beeps, especially in reverse. I've thought of adding a back up beeper but they are too loud and obnoxious.

 

[vfx]

...not sure I'd pet a barking dog,

OK. A purring kitten.

 

[MikeK]

We should be able to pick the sound. I'd even like to be able to switch sounds....like from a Lamborghini to a older VW Bug.

That is specifically disallowed in the proposal.

 

[stopcrazypp]

That is specifically disallowed in the proposal.

Yep. No point in discussing since it won't be allowed (for obvious reasons).

 

[strider]

How is this implemented in the Leaf or Karma? Is there a speaker behind the front bumper?

 

[stopcrazypp]

How is this implemented in the Leaf or Karma? Is there a speaker behind the front bumper?

For the Leaf:

The system is controlled through a computer and synthesizer in the dash panel, and the sound is delivered through a speaker in the engine compartment. A switch inside the vehicle can turn off sounds temporarily. The system automatically resets to "On" at the next ignition cycle.

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2010/_STORY/100611-01-e.html

The Karma has two chrome speakers on the rear bumper (they kind of look like exhaust, but they are not). They call it "Fisker Hybrid HZ external sound".

 

[tdiggity]

I can already see the posts about needing to make a service appt because the error light came on for the artificial noise speaker. Sad.

 

[GeekGirls]

I can already see the posts about needing to make a service appt because the error light came on for the artificial noise speaker. Sad.

Actually, I can the reverse happening more often: places where you can get a "service" appointment to sabotage the artificial noise speaker.

 

[strider]

Thanks for the info stopcrazpp - so looks like it would be fairly easy for that system to experience a failure.

 

[dpeilow]

Shhh! New cars told to quieten down - MSN Cars UK

 

[vfx]

So cars are too noisy and to quiet?!!

Why don't they just pick a single allowable decibel and be done with it?

 

[Toasty]

to OPs original question. No

 

[Lcaudle24]

I am a reservation holder and heared there are countries in Europe that will make a law to oblige EV's to produce a sound when driving at low speed. This would be for safety reasons since people don't hear the car when crossing a street or walking at parking etc.

Any thoughts ?

Absolutely. I have never considered that feature on an ICE a plus in the states (many models offer it). However, after nearly two weeks experience in my new MS, I believe there is a significant need for that because road noise ( the only noise you get in the MS) seems to increase exponentially with speed. In an ICE, you always have that motor noise in the background so you do not experience to extreme level of "quiet" that you do in the MS when traveling at 40 mile per hour (65 k/hr) or less. I hope the EU enacts the legislation OR Tesla considers this feature by the time your MS delivers.

An interesting thought is whether such a change could be accommodated solely through a software update rather than hardware or a combination of hardware/software. Obviously, the former makes it more of a realistic probability. Check out the forum that deals with owners' desired future software changes and I think I saw this as an item on the list - could be wrong, however.

Cheers!