Electric Cars Might Be Required To Make Gasoline-Powered Sound

By Cornelius Nunev





Electric automobiles are notoriously quiet. This is not typically a selling point, but definitely 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 cars and electric automobiles could be made noisier with after-market parts. This equipment, however, may soon become mandatory.



Difficulties quiet automobiles create



At low speeds, several hybrids and electric vehicles make very little noise. Usually, the automobiles will make noise over 20 miles per hour from the air resistance, although it isn't at all the same as a gas automobile would make. Noise pollution could be helped greatly with these vehicles. It is still an issue for everyone who needs the sound though. Sometimes, it is hard for a person to identify how far away an electric car really is when it is so quiet which can be bad for blind people, pedestrians and cyclists. Limited studies have shown that hybrids and electrics are twice as likely to collide with pedestrians at intersections and parking lots, where the cars are moving at very low speeds.



Vehicle corporations addressing the issue



The automobile sound issue is one that car corporations for instance Nissan Motors are working on. In the future, the Nissan Motors Leaf will make a noise. It was referred to as a "futuristic buzzing noise" at one point. Kits to put into cars are being developed by Lotus Engineering and other companies. A Prius can be converted to sound like a race auto with one kit. 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 standards to create



A requirement for car sound can be put together by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The European Union also has some difficulties with it. It is considering regulation similar to this. Several groups are against the idea of natural noises getting used because it could be bad for blind individuals. The Society of Automotive Engineers is working to create what it hopes will be worldwide criteria for electric and hybrid sound to ease the transition and prevent a virtual cacophony of different electronic noise on highways and freeways.









About the Author:








#end

No comments:

Post a Comment