Coming Soon: Downloadable ring tones for your silent electric car?
Like to download new ring tones for your phone so that you don't sound like everybody else in the world that opts for the free cell phones from their chosen service provider? The same kind of thing is reportedly in the works for future electric cars.
We've been hearing for the last few years that the near silent nature of hybrids and EVs is a potential safety problem for pedestrians, especially for children and those hard of hearing, and these so-called "car tones" are seen as a possible answer to this problem.
At this point, there isn't any real data that suggests these quiet cars are any more or less dangerous to pedestrians than any other two-ton behemoth rolling down the road, but its still an issue being looked at closely by automakers.
According to the New York Times, companies like BMW, Fisker and Nissan are currently working with Hollywood special-effects teams and the film industry on new sounds that could be downloaded to current and future electric cars. We want our first EV to sound like Darth Vader's TIE Fighter and the horn to grunt like Chewie. Why not?
[Source: New York Times | Photo: Flickr/robad0b via C.C. 2.0]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Snoopy 11:57AM (10/16/2009)
Dang it,
I knew there was going to be a market for this, eventually. Hopefully there will still be some room for third party sound developers to get a piece of it - maybe make deals with the manufacturers for specialty sounds.
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Yanquetino 12:19PM (10/16/2009)
Brilliant. Let's add even more cacophony to our streets, shall we? I suppose that cops will now start pulling us over because our cars are *too* silent. Riiiiight...!
Wanna bet that, when and if consumers buy an EV with a noise maker, the first tool they'll use on it will be a wire cutter?
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d-man 5:42PM (10/16/2009)
think less "cops will pull you over" and more "your car won't pass inspection." I'm all for small noise makers at low speeds on my electric vehicles as I have both almost been hit and almost hit inattentive pedestrians at by/with my toyota hybrid in electric mode. I would prefer an amplified electric motor noise myself (maybe I'll rig mine with a mic and preamp instead of disabling it all together) and hate the idea of car tones, but at low speeds, I think such a device should be a part of the electric car.
Yanquetino 7:40PM (10/16/2009)
Is that right? Almost, huh? It sure makes me wonder about the stats. Given that hundreds of EV1s were driven for literally years, as well as Honda EVs, Ford Rangers, S-10 pickups, Th!nks, and RAV4-EVs (hundreds of which are still on our roads), not to mention all the Teslas now in use, and with the 500+ Mini E lessees chalking up well over a million miles to date... how many pedestrians have those drivers run over because their vehicles are so silent? I keep waiting for those thousands of EV drivers to 'fess up, but so far you are the only one I have heard come down in favor of noise makers. Myself, I side with Chelsea Sexton (http://bit.ly/40P8Eh).
As for inspections... then EV owners will just splice a toggle switch into the cut wire.
EVFTW 12:38PM (10/16/2009)
sarcasm
I really love hearing everyone's different ring tones in the grocery store, restaurant, movie theatre.
/sarcasm
This is going to be awful. This will turn our streets into a mix of jetsons, flintstones, airplanes, etc...
I'll make mine sound like a "whistle-tip." 'cause the whistles go WOOOOO.... but only in the mornin'
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Jonathan King 1:17PM (10/16/2009)
My thoughts exactly. Think city traffic sounds bad now? This would be awful if people had their vehicles making outrageous noises. How bout we let electric vehicles improve the noise situation in the city, not make it worse.
Jonathan King 1:18PM (10/16/2009)
And great whistle tip reference. :-)
GR 1:54PM (10/16/2009)
The problem with cars today is that engines make noise CONSTANTLY. You can hear them when the car is at a traffic light, stopped in rush hour traffic, or going 60 on the highway.
Electric cars could improve on that by only making noise when the car is in motion and possibly only increase in volume as it goes faster. This will improve the noise pollution in our cities, not make it worse.
Plus, tell me you wouldn't find it cool to have a car that sounds like a Podracer?
Brammofan 12:39PM (10/16/2009)
Brammo was, at one time, contemplating a "Default Sound" contest, where participants could upload sound files that the Brammo Enertia would play while it was moving at a speed of less than 10 or 15 mph. Not sure what happened to that idea or whether current production bikes already have a sound built in. The National Federation for the Blind is a leading advocate for the inclusion of some sort of low-speed sound. It's a contentious issue, to be sure.
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Neil 10:28PM (10/16/2009)
All I ask is a low volume, unobtrusive "warning" horn. If they mandate car tones my son will want our car to sound like it's had too many baked beans for dinner.
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evtestdk 4:21PM (10/16/2009)
It should not have any sound at all!!! The benefits of reducing noise in the city are so big, that the issue must be addressed from another angle. I have just tested Honda Insight for two days and really enjoyed how silent it was in the city!!!
I realize that there is a problem with kids and people that have seeing disorder.
The problems needs to be addressed differently:
1. Kids and adults that have no seeing disorder must learn sooner or later not to relay on their hearing. I know it sounds tough and I do not hope that it will be my kids. But we cannot keep sending artificial sound/noise out for the next many years.
2. People with seeing disorder need an electronic device that communicated with all EV and HEV warning them. It could be an app for their mobile phone or a separate device.
Best regards
Martin - http://www.evtest.dk/
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Mark Kiernan 5:59PM (10/16/2009)
Tie fighter sounds :)
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Eletruk 11:02PM (10/16/2009)
Well, if they require noisemakers, then I think they should also consider the oposite end of the noise spectrum, i.e., Harleys, Hot Rods, loud stereos, etc. They make SO much noise that they drown out anything else in the area. So it would seem that they are as much or more of a hazard to the sight impaired because they mask out all those other sounds that would normally give warning to their presence.
I suggest we start a movement to banish loud vehicles because they are even more of a danger to the sight impaired than quiet ones.
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