BY: Charcarus Thomas
The use of
Electric vehicles is on the rise. With increasing gas prices and various tax
incentives, consumers have become more attracted to the use of electric energy
in automobiles. If you have ever been in
close proximities of one of these electric vehicles, you may notice how quiet
the vehicle is. The electric motors used to power the vehicles does not produce
nearly the amount of sound as a conventional vehicle with an engine. Because of
this, new regulations are being put in place to enhance the safety of the blind
community, cyclist, and pedestrians. The solution to these new regulations are
artificial Electric Vehicle Warning Sounds.
Japan began the
movement of requiring Electric Vehicle Warning sounds in 2010. Since then,
countries such as the United States and the UK have began to force automakers
to include these safety enhancements to increase the safety of their residents. The purpose of
the regulations is to discover the minimum level of sound that is produced by
plug-in and hybrid vehicles while they are on and operating so that pedestrians
can navigate safely, especially those in the blind community. Scientific test
have proven that it is difficult to detect electric vehicles that are moving
below 32 km/h or about 20 mph. The NHTSA, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, has proposed that electric and hybrid vehicles would be
required to emit these artificial tones under 19 mph, which would ultimately
prevent about 2,800 pedestrian accidents throughout the life of the vehicle.
The NHSTA states that automakers will have a choice in the sounds their
vehicles will be able to emit. Originally, the regulations were to take in
effect by 2014, however, carmakers have requested that the regulation date be
pushed back to 2018.
Since this new
regulation has surfaced, many companies are beginning to take advantage of
creating a new business with new technologies. ECTunes, a company based out of
California, are utilizing directional sound technology to allow cars to emit
artificial sounds when needed. This will prevent unnecessary noise and send
warning sound in the direction the vehicle is moving. These systems often embed
weatherproof speakers into the bumpers of the vehicle. Fisker, the automaker
that produces the luxury electric vehicle the Fisker Karma (Pictured above),
has developed their own unique sounds that emits from their vehicles. Their
unique artificial sound is stated to sound like a mixture of a Spaceship and a
Formula One car. The company wanted to ensure that their vehicle met the new
regulation and also enhance the driving experience.
Companies such
as Ford, Chevrolet, Lotus, and Nissan are beginning to incorporate this technology
into their electric and hybrid vehicles. In addition to electric and hybrid
vehicles, many gasoline engine vehicles are beginning to use this artificial
sound technology to pump fake exhaust sounds through the interior speakers of
the vehicles since fuel efficiency requirements have effected the engine sizes
and enhancement to improve fuel consumption. You may even be currently driving
a vehicle that has this technology. As creativity increases, the creation of
new regulations, and new technology, it will be nice to see what car companies
will come up with in their new vehicles in the future.
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One of the mom's of my friend back home was very concerned about this. Her daughter was deaf and she was concerned that the low volume of electric cars would be dangerous to deaf people.
ReplyDeleteI think this is great that they are considering people with disabilities well before large amounts of people really start to purchase these types of vehicles. It is good to see that they are taking the right precautions with the specialized noise to make accommodations for the special needs without adding more noise back to the car.
ReplyDeleteAs we see with all forms of new technology, there are pros and cons, with a con of the electronic vehicle being less notable sounds for surrounding individuals to detect that a vehicle is near or approaching. I believe that sound related companies will thrive from the incorporation of regular vehicle warning sounds into electronic cars. As society switches more into electronically run cars, it will be interest how regulation will transpire and how it will affect the initiatives overall efficiency.
ReplyDeleteNot only does something like this give the sound companies a huge edge but it also is helping our society. I believe that it is only right that this become implemented in all electric vehicles.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a very interesting article. I live in California where these newer hybrid vehicles are very popular. This new focus on making the vehicles louder is a great new enhancement not just for the blind community but for the community in general. Being able to hear and identify vehicles as they approach is a key factor of driving and being aware of your surroundings. Great article and these are some very interesting new innovations.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting article, I think it is good for everybody when companies are trying to go out and set a new standard for innovation. This brings necessary change and ultimately I hope brands like Tesla and Fisker become the new face of the automotive industry. Although I must say the sound was kind of weird to me.
ReplyDeleteThe future is here man! Great article! I agree with Oren, as we get older, we're ging to have to be very aware of these cars coming. I remember when I saw my first Tesla. After talking with the owner, I walked away and turned around and she had already pulled off and was turning the corner. Cool, yet scary.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the new law is going to be good for people who live in the city, especially blind people. It also seems that technology is moving faster than the government can keep up with.
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