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Electric automobiles might be required to make noise

Electric cars are notoriously quiet. This is not usually a feature, but certainly a side benefit. Electric and hybrid vehicles are the target of some new legislation. The legislation would require these quiet cars to make more noise. Hybrid automobiles and electric automobiles could be made noisier with after-market parts. This equipment, however, may soon become mandatory.

The difficulties with silent vehicles

Hybrids and electric vehicles tend to be quite quiet when going slow. At speeds above 20 miles per hour, the air resistance against the automobile does make some noise, but it is generally not as loud as gasoline-powered engines. While this is great news for sound pollution, it is bad news for many of those who rely on cars making sound. Pedestrians, cyclists and sight-impaired individuals often cannot identify which direction a hybrid or electric automobile is coming from until they're very close. A hybrid or electric car is two times more likely to hit a pedestrian. This is mostly only when it is going at very slow speeds.

Vehicle companies addressing the issue

The car sound issue is one that car businesses such as Nissan are working on. The Nissan Motors Leaf is reportedly going to be making a "futuristic buzzing noise" in later models. Separate businesses, for instance Lotus Engineering, are developing kits that add realistic motor rumbling to hybrid automobiles. It is simple to change a Prius with the kits. You can sound like a race car sometimes. Kits are also available to create 8- and 12-cylinder automobile sounds, so technology is already available to add noise to quiet hybrids and electric cars.

International criteria to create

A requirement for automobile sound might be put together by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The European Union also has some troubles with it. It is considering regulation similar to this. Some automobile makers have considered sounds based on natural noises, but many sight-impaired advocacy groups argue against this option. The Society of Automotive Engineers is working to create what it hopes will be worldwide standards for electric and hybrid noise to ease the transition and prevent a virtual cacophony of various electronic noise on highways and freeways.

Citations

Times Online

timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7115259.ece

MSN

editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1131334&page=0