Carmakers agree to make electric cars noisier

[ALS]

The sounds would need to communicate something about the car's speed and acceleration, just as the sound of a rumbling gasoline engine does.

Peter Valdes-dapena, - CNN - May 19, 2010

Automakers and advocates for the blind have agreed on a plan to address an unintended problem caused by electric and hybrid cars: They endanger sight-impaired and distracted pedestrians because they make no noise when running on electric power.

The groups joined together to present Congress with a proposal for minimum noise levels that future electric cars would have to make.

Sometimes even sighted pedestrians can be unaware of the cars' approach.

"As a person who walks my dog in Virginia, where there are no sidewalks, I've been startled by hybrid cars, too," said Gloria Bergquist, vice president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

A study done last year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that hybrid cars tend to hit pedestrians more often than other cars in situations where the approaching car cannot be seen.

The AAM, along with the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, the American Council for the Blind and the National Federation for the Blind, presented Congress with suggested language that could become part of the Motor Safety Act of 2010, a bill now moving through Congress that would create a host of new auto safety rules.... [Read More]

[rickkop]

This may or may not be a real problem, I don't know. But one of the thing I really like about my hybrid, is it is "QUIET". I can't believe how much of a nanny state things are becoming. Next thing you know I'll have to buckle up and wear a helmet when I climb on my riding mower to do the lawn. Gee-whiz

[02Civic08Vespa]

I personally am glad to see them stepping in because otherwise there was going to be a cacophony of different noises from different cars, with some being more loud than needed I'm sure. Adding sound to electric cars is inevitable, it either will be done now or when a little kid or blind person is run over. I prefer now.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Oh god no. I'm not taking my Prius in to get that update.

Here are my conditions before accepting that vehicles must make noise:

1) New federal law making it illegal for any road users to be in the road while wearing earphones or headphones
2) New ICE vehicles must allow the driver to hear all slow-moving vehicles around them, so the stereo volume and fan speed/volume will be limited at low speeds
3) New ICE vehicles have to meet the same minimum noise standard as electric cars
4) The noise must be software adjustable so that when the population realizes what a fecking stupid law this is everybody can turn the unnecessary noise off and the country will suddenly become much quieter.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by ALS

"As a person who walks my dog in Virginia, where there are no sidewalks, I've been startled by hybrid cars, too," said Gloria Bergquist, vice president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Well, maybe if you walked against the flow of traffic as you are meant to do you wouldn't be startled by approaching vehicles.

Sums it up, doesn't it. Let's shift responsibility and make society worse.

[GrendelKhan]

"The sounds would need to communicate something about the car's speed and acceleration, just as the sound of a rumbling gasoline engine does." Not so much with CVTs.

I like that my hybrid is quiet. I wish it were more so. I would consider buying an electric car for my very short commute, but not if it wasn't quiet. We're considering a Leaf, but a noisy polluting Leaf is not an option.

A noisy electric car is just stupid. I see a blind guy at the commuter rail station where I drop off my wife nearly every day - I don't drive into him the same way that I don't drive into everyone and everything else.

I won't be buying a hybrid again, because my car is just starting to act like a hybrid by the time I get to work - still warming up. Could go electric, but not if it's noisy.

If electric cars are going to pollute my environment with noise, then I don't care anymore. Give me that giant SUV or maybe a Mustang. I'm done.

Actually, what I really want is an WRX/STI...

[xcel]

Hi All:

I cannot wait to see the Horn Relay mod to get around this POS idea

Good Luck

Wayne

[Neicy]

Originally Posted by ItsNotAboutTheMoney

Oh god no. I'm not taking my Prius in to get that update.

Here are my conditions before accepting that vehicles must make noise:

1) New federal law making it illegal for any road users to be in the road while wearing earphones or headphones
2) New ICE vehicles must allow the driver to hear all slow-moving vehicles around them, so the stereo volume and fan speed/volume will be limited at low speeds
3) New ICE vehicles have to meet the same minimum noise standard as electric cars
4) The noise must be software adjustable so that when the population realizes what a fecking stupid law this is everybody can turn the unnecessary noise off and the country will suddenly become much quieter.

My sentiments exactly. Especially condition #1