Fake Engine Noises Added to Hybrid and Electric Cars to Improve Safety
Hybrid cars and electric cars are great for the environment, but they pose a potential danger to pedestrians. Electric engines make almost no noise when running, so that familiar sound of an on-coming combustion engine isn't there to warn absent-minded pedestrians or the blind that a vehicle is approaching.
Members of Congress are now considering a bill that would establish minimum noise levels for all hybrid and electric cars. Two students from Stanford have created a system that uses speakers mounted behind the wheels to project a vaguely motor-like sound towards pedestrians in front of and behind the vehicle. A simple computer is used to direct the sound, for example, increasing the volume in the left speakers when making a left-hand turn.
Check out the video above for some shots and sounds of the system in action. [Source: New Scientist]
Filed under: Car Tech, Green Tech
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Damon @ Jun 5th 2008 8:45PM
Now I'm not against the concept of adding sound in order to promote safety to the impaired, but I certainly would want something better than what this a/v clip demonstrated. Imagine spending $40,000 on a car only to have it sound like it's dragging a plastic garbage container that got caught in the undercarriage!!
J @ Jun 5th 2008 9:38PM
They also need to add burning lasers, to warn the deaf, OMG.
wako @ Jun 6th 2008 12:31AM
or just add a microwave ray shooting from the car so when a blind AND deaf individual can feel a tingling feeling when a car is coming at them ;)
wako @ Jun 6th 2008 12:29AM
wait wait wait... we are working against natural selection here! if someone is meant to meet my front bumper because they didnt see me coming then it is how nature intended it! should we add horns to bears so that the blind can hear them charging at them too?
.... of course im just kidding.... or am i? :)
Kári Rafn @ Jun 16th 2008 2:35PM
well everything is part of nature, including humans, so whatever we to, so does nature, which means we can't work against natural selection ;)
R @ Jun 6th 2008 7:14AM
Question - Has anyone every been hit by a hybrid because they did not hear it, or is this a case of people panicing about it? Just like cell phones can not be used when filling up a gas tank, which is false.
Errcoman @ Jun 6th 2008 10:46AM
I think that they should hire sound effects veteran Fred Newman (..he did voices and effect for Nickelodeon's "Doug" and he's the sfx guy on "A Prairie Home Companion" radio show.) and have him record the sound effect of a car approaching..screeching it's brakes, peeling out from a full stop and stalling and starting. That way we have uniformity of the sound effects. And it will give him plenty of work... Then of course when hybrids trucks arrive...
D'Monet @ Jun 6th 2008 12:46PM
Wait a minute, did they take horns off of hybrid cars? How about modifying the deer whistles?
Who would want to add the weight and battery drain? Can you shut the damn thing off on the highway?
This is just stupid.
Can @ Jun 6th 2008 2:43PM
So you are buying a normally "silent" car and you have to hear all that artificial noise.
Nonsense.
People should look around!
steelisreal @ Jun 6th 2008 2:49PM
yeah, that's right even blind people!!!
steelisreal @ Jun 6th 2008 2:49PM
Oh, yeah looking around for the blind people that this is intended to help is really an option.
MadMike @ Jun 6th 2008 4:54PM
Great, I can see it now. Downloadable engine noises for $9.99. Get your 4hp Honda civic hybrid with 10ft wing make sounds like a Ferrari.
I think I'm going to be sick...
Hudson @ Jun 7th 2008 8:23PM
City living is loud enough as it is. We have a chance with electric cars to make it more pleasant to be outside and near busy streets and we'd toss that all away? I hate you all.
Kári Rafn @ Jun 16th 2008 2:38PM
Does this mean they'll be putting sounds on bicycles too ? what about wheel chairs? skateboards? how fast does something have to go so that it has to make a sound loud enough for some blind guy to hear? don't those people have dogs or something to keep them safe? :D