Volt will have a driver-activated "pedestrian-friendly alert"
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt
The issue of the sound, or lack thereof to be specific, of hybrids, electric cars and everything in-between isn't likely to go away any time soon. The problem, as some see it, is that electric motors do not make the same kind of noise that internal combustion engines make, and this could be a problem for blind or deaf people. Is it a real concern? That's difficult to say until these types of vehicles really begin showing up on the roadways and people are interacting with them on a day-to-day basis. We've witnessed first-hand the fact that electric vehicles do indeed make noise, but is that sound enough to ensure the safety of pedestrians? We'll see.
In the meantime, engineers are considering all of their options when it comes to making artificial noises for their EVs and hybrids. For instance, the Volt's designers, led by Frank Weber, intend to add a driver-activated "pedestrian-friendly alert" to the Chevy Volt. The Star Trek-like (seriously) noisemaker would be turned on and off manually it seems. Of course, the Volt will indeed have an engine, but it won't always be running and may, in fact, hardly ever operate depending on its driver's habits. We look forward to seeing how this plays out.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: GM-Volt.com via Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JamesWB 10:59AM (10/30/2008)
I'm pretty sure most cars come with a driver activated pedestrian alert. Mine is activated by pressing the middle of my steering wheel.
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tankd0g 11:26AM (10/30/2008)
GM, do you think we're completely f***ing brain dead now or what? Are you seriously going to list "horn" on the included options list now?
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Diffrunt 11:37AM (10/30/2008)
I am in awe wondering how this subject ever arose. The only audible that emits (outside the car) from any modern, stock, piston powered auto is tire/road surface.
probably boiledbrain Gore,s idea
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TX CHL Instructor 12:06PM (10/30/2008)
I see Jeremy is still laboring under the impression that GM will be around long enough to produce the Volt.
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jasonG 12:18PM (10/30/2008)
"electric motors do not make the same kind of noise that internal combustion engines make, and this could be a problem for blind or deaf people."
So silent cars are a problem for deaf people? (seriously?)
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Brn 4:20PM (10/30/2008)
The whole thing is stupid. When I'm cruising at 30+mph in my ICE car, you don't hear the engine anyway. You hear the tires on the road.
Brn 4:24PM (10/30/2008)
As long as we're at it...
I live near a freeway. If, over the next several years, crap like this increases the noise I have to deal with, I'm gonna be mighty upset.
Eletruk 4:56PM (10/30/2008)
So I can see a new market - car tones. Just like you can buy ring tones for your cell phone, you will be able to purchase custom created car tones for your car.
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Ernie 12:38AM (11/03/2008)
It never ceases to amaze me how many people here have never been outside their cars at a crosswalk before.
Yes, your car makes *lots* of noise at intersections (the primary concern of the blind, who dare not cross anywhere else), no matter how quiet you think your car is. Stand at a busy intersection and just listen for a second, and you'll notice that as soon as the light turns green, the noise level increases exponentially.
Do the same thing at a quiet intersection. Notice that when a car enters the intersection from a standstill, it becomes very noisy. Watch the same thing happen with a Prius. It's nowhere near as noisy. Now, watch a Prius slow down for a right turn. It's next to silent, because the gas engine is off and the car is moving at less than 10 mph. The blind person does not know the car is there, and is likely to step out in front of it.
But hey, it seems that most people here are willing to go on what their gut tells them rather than on trying to experience it for themselves. Sometimes, the real world isn't quite as intuitive as you think it would be.
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ZEV_good 3:04PM (11/01/2008)
Some may recall the early EV1s blipped the horn every second or so, but only when reversing. It was for the same reason - safety of pedestrians (still not clear on how this helps deaf people-huh?). But, the blipping horn feature was removed in later years based on people complaining they didn't like it (think of backing out of your driveway early in the morning).
My opinion is this feature is unecessary, as there are plenty of strong hybrids on the market today and more coming, with electric launch capability. Good enough for them, good enough for the Volt.
Nick
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brent 6:27PM (11/02/2008)
Since there is a small (relatively) population of blind people, a possible solution would be to put a simple wireless transmitter/receiver in a car and give similar receivers to the blind people. This way, cars are alerted to blind pedestrians and blind pedestrians are alerted to cars.
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