EU Mandates Low Speed Noise For Electric Vehicles
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The European Union has implemented a new mandate requiring all new electric vehicles be fitted with a device that emits a noise at speeds of 12 mph and under.
These noise producing devices serve as a pedestrian device. Because EVs are almost silent when driving slowly or accelerating from a stop, pedestrians may not hear them coming and step into their path.
The EU mandate does not require that the noise sounds a certain way, although there is a frequency range it must fall within. Additionally, the sound must change pitch when accelerating or decelerating. It must also have a volume of at least 56 decibels. An average internal combustion engine vehicle rings in at about 80 decibels.
“The sound to be generated should be a continuous sound that provides information to the pedestrians and vulnerable road users of a vehicle in operation,” the EU guideline says. “The sound should be easily indicative of vehicle behaviour and should sound similar to the sound of a vehicle of the same category equipped with an internal combustion engine.”
Noise emitting devices will also be able to be overridden for certain scenarios, like driving stop and go traffic on the highway, for example.
Advocate groups for the blind and those with poor eyesight have called for a such a mandate in the past.
The US National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration will implement a mandate similar to the new EU guidelines by 2020. Under those rules, all electric and hybrid cars must emit warning sounds when travelling below 18.6 mph by 2020.
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Just put a baseball card in the spokes!
Because morons can’t look up from their phones and just walk out in traffic, automakers have to add more to cars that just increases the price on everyone else. Thanks morons.
The sound is mainly for blind people who don’t really have the ability to see the vehicle.
At least they can still be run over by bicycles! Or will the bicycles need a noisemaker, too?
Well, what about this rule?:
“Under those rules, all electric and hybrid cars must emit warning sounds when travelling below 18.6 mph by 2020.” So over 18.5 MPH where a vehicle can do real damage, there is no need for a warning sound on an EV?
Yes because out of the 7 billion people on earth, it’s all full of blind people and they’re being killed off by the elite without eye problems.
No this feature isn’t “mainly for blind people”.
Pretty sure most EVs here have that noise already. Thankfully it’s nothing particularly bothersome, and nothing to complain about – especially since it’s mainly for the blind. My ’17 Volt’s is pleasant noise, and the ’19s sounded even cooler – like an alien spaceship.
What a useless and stupid law!! There are many pedestrians who use earphones and never hear what is around them, not even horns (klaxons in the UK). The laws governing driver’s permit don’t exclude deaf candidates, so those will never hear any noise. And what about hybrids that have a gas engine, but run on electricity at low speeds while the battery has a charge? Do they have to upgrade to generate sounds, too?
But if I could choose the noise made by my EV, I will choose the “Bronx Cheer” also known as a “raspberry”!
I suggest an auxiliary 427 C.I. gas engine with straight pipes.
I have a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The instruction manual explains that it makes a noise, both front and rear, up to 22 miles per hour. It is a noise akin to something out of a science fiction movie from 1955. Not unpleasant; just… odd.
I wrote a letter to MoPar Performance, asking them to add a modified noise-maker to their catalogue. In lieu of the science fiction noise, I requested the sound of a 392 hemi with twin four-barrels. They have not replied.
So, what you’re saying is, you (like myself with my ’17 Volt) are not severely inconvenienced by having this low-speed noise, unlike all those who clearly have no intention of owning an EV that are commenting on this post, whining about it?
I am shocked, shocked I say! (Pun somewhat intended there)
This is what’s wrong with our society. Trying to protect the few while inconveniencing the masses!!!
Oh yeah, a speaker in the front of your vehicle is soooo inconvenient.
/s
Anything to add to the cost of new vehicles. Legislating the affordability away with law after law.
Yeah, because that $10 it adds on top of a $35k+ vehicle really is a huge problem. This is literally a tiny speaker.
In this particular case, sure. In the case of ever tightening emissions standards and auto companies having to use cutting edge and expensive tech such as EV’s in the first place just to keep up with laws, not so much.
I would agree with that point, yes, it has gotten very expensive.
I think it should be programable like cell phone ringtones. You could get some pretty funky ones!