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Electric Cars Could Feature 'Star Wars' Sound Effects to Warn Pedestrians, Wookies

by Caleb Johnson on May 9, 2010 at 09:04 AM

Star Wars Car SoundsTo make the roads safer for all, electric cars might soon be equipped with unique sounds that would warn pedestrians of their presence. According to the Daily Mail, automotive regulators in Europe, the U.S. and Japan might require manufacturers to incorporate sounds -- from the roar of a muscle car engine to the buzz of a 'Star Wars' spacecraft -- into electric cars. This news comes on the heels of a study at the University of California, which found that it took pedestrians much longer to detect hybrid cars than it did their louder, gas-powered cousins.

Now, a team of researchers at Warwick University in the U.K. are studying the sounds of nature, music, engines and sci-fi movies to determine which ones pedestrians find to be the most recognizable. "They think they are reacting to the sight of a vehicle, but often it is the sound that is triggering their attention," researcher Paul Jennings told the Mail. "Sound also tells you whether the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating."

So, in the future, we could hear what sounds like an Imperial Speeder Bike zipping up the street, only to discover it's a tiny hybrid car coming at our rear. We like the idea of electric vehicles being equipped with loud, unique sounds -- it makes us feel less like wimps for wanting to own one. [From: The Daily Mail, via: DVICE]

Tags: car, carsafety, electriccar, green, hybrid, hybrid cars, HybridCars, safety, sci-fi, starwars, top, transportation

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