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Should EVs Make Artificial Sounds at Low Speeds?
- Thread starter Brent
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- Electric Vehicles
johnr
Member
Unfortunately there are bound to be instances of pedestrians being hit by EVs. The problem is pedestrians depending on their ears and not their eyes, and drivers not actively watching for them. Even so, this is offset by the fact that EVs save far more lives due to the lack of pollution and lack of dependence on oil from our enemies. Every year, about 64,000 people in the United States die prematurely from heart and lung disease due to particulate air pollution (ref). Since EVs emit much less pollution (make that zero pollution when plugged into a clean power source), even when you figure in the chance of increased collisions with pedestrians, in the end it's clear that they save more lives.
Of course the sound issue is also a temporary problem, because:
1. As EVs become more popular, people will start getting used to looking both ways before crossing the street (what a concept!)
2. Even now, there are cases of pedestrians getting hit because they're listening to their ipods and not watching where they're going.
Of course the sound issue is also a temporary problem, because:
1. As EVs become more popular, people will start getting used to looking both ways before crossing the street (what a concept!)
2. Even now, there are cases of pedestrians getting hit because they're listening to their ipods and not watching where they're going.
John - If I were to not any more while reading your post, my head would fall off.
Those are exactly the points that make this all so silly. Where is the public outcry about how many people gas cars kill? We're more worried about the *potential* of killing blind people when we have the REALITY of killing all kinds of people independent of their sightedness!
Blind people are getting run down by gas cars today. Are the gas cars not loud enough? What about rear-engine buses and such where the noise maker is at least a couple of car lengths behind the deadly front bumper?
John - Do you have a better pointer for your reference?
Those are exactly the points that make this all so silly. Where is the public outcry about how many people gas cars kill? We're more worried about the *potential* of killing blind people when we have the REALITY of killing all kinds of people independent of their sightedness!
Blind people are getting run down by gas cars today. Are the gas cars not loud enough? What about rear-engine buses and such where the noise maker is at least a couple of car lengths behind the deadly front bumper?
John - Do you have a better pointer for your reference?
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I wrote
The only reason you can't hear an EV is because the loud Infernal combustion engines drown them out. Sit on a quite corner or rural road and note how noisy a bicycle is going by. No problem hearing it from 3-400 feet away.
Incentivize what you want and tax what you don't want.
Give tax rebates for quieter cars and add a tax to loud vehicles. A sliding scale would have automakers working real quick.
The only reason you can't hear an EV is because the loud Infernal combustion engines drown them out. Sit on a quite corner or rural road and note how noisy a bicycle is going by. No problem hearing it from 3-400 feet away.
Incentivize what you want and tax what you don't want.
Give tax rebates for quieter cars and add a tax to loud vehicles. A sliding scale would have automakers working real quick.
johnr
Member
yes but only on mufflers
That, and then there are those not-quite-legal aftermarket exhaust mods
Darell, I couldn't find a link to the report itself, but this was the article from the NRDC which I read that references the report. Other helpful articles from the American Lung Association can be found here and here.
The sad reality is people are willing to accept the slow and painful deaths experienced by thousands every year as a result of air pollution from gasoline-fueled vehicles, but when there's a possibility a few people could get hit by a silent ZEV, suddenly it's a very different picture. I think some perspective is needed!
Drivers could get a charge out of Chevrolet Volt - USATODAY.com
Besides the insanity of GM's corporate cowtowing to special interest groups, the USA Today author dances with the crazy talk when he calls a section "Quiet" and prattles on about the electric motor not having whine during acceleration or slowing and later talks about the ICE motor's sound when it kicks in, but he just throws on the "noisemaker" comment on the end like means nothing.
Besides the insanity of GM's corporate cowtowing to special interest groups, the USA Today author dances with the crazy talk when he calls a section "Quiet" and prattles on about the electric motor not having whine during acceleration or slowing and later talks about the ICE motor's sound when it kicks in, but he just throws on the "noisemaker" comment on the end like means nothing.
roblab
Active Member
This is not a bad idea: Like a horn blowing, only it makes a "humming" sound. You would probably see the pedestrian, and just want them to know you're there.
Probably doesn't know the words....
Comfort : Silence - Bluecar by Pininfarina
Probably doesn't know the words....
Comfort : Silence - Bluecar by Pininfarina
Indeed
But I suppose it's better that Lotus (and therefore Tesla?) are involved up-front and can get some real numbers on this issue.
Not sure about Clarkson's 80% figure. That may only be true at the speeds he drives.
I'm guessing we're talking the 10-30mph range where the car isn't really moving fast enough for the tyres and the air turbulence over and around the spinning wheels to generate that much noise.
A real pity since most city traffic crawls along at these speeds, so there is likely to be a BIG missed opportunity to quieten busy urban areas.
