[Dutch]

Arkamys creates space-age safety sounds for EVs

In 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established the very cool-sounding “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles,” which does exactly what it says. It requires that 100 percent of all EVs and hybrids make some noise at low speeds by 2019. If a vehicle can move forward or in reverse without engaging an internal combustion engine, it needs to make some kind of noise that blind and visually impaired pedestrians can identify as coming from a moving vehicle.

Full article at: https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/30/arkamys-creates-space-age-safety-sounds-for-evs/

 

[BAZINGA]

I would love my Gen II Volt to sound like George Jetson's car.

 

[Raymondjram]

As the specs say "by 2019" I am not expecting this regulation to affect me. If I get my first EV I will disable the noise generating system, because our local traffic laws don't require it. We have enough noise on our roads as it is with gas engine rumbles. I prefer a quiet car that generates no noise at all. Sighless persons are a minority and cannot decide how the rest live and drive. If I see one sightless near the road, I just give a short blast of the regular horn.

 

[llninja]

I would love my Gen II Volt to sound like George Jetson's car.

No, it needs to sound like a Hellcat or a Raptor. Better yet, make it user changeable. LFA anyone?

 

[Norton]

... I prefer a quiet car that generates no noise at all. Sighless persons are a minority and cannot decide how the rest live and drive. If I see one sightless near the road, I just give a short blast of the regular horn.

Sigh-full....

There's that compassion again..

And again.... It's not about YOU.
It's a safety system for ANY Earthling near your car when you are in motion.

As soon as an EV starts rolling there is tire noise, Climate control, radio, windows down, and such.
Deal with this 'awful' sound, which you can barely hear from the cabin, even if you are trying to hear it. (I have to be near a reflective wall)

Deal with it. Play by the rules.

I'm out of hear [sic]... Cue Jetson's Car sound !!!!!!!

edit: Ol'Ray must be a favorite in the local Blind Community: "Ray saw me walking to the store today. The JERK !"

 

[llninja]

Can someone please build an app that uses the phone accelerometer to make the jetsons car noise match the car speed so I can pipe the noise inside the cabin? Having just picked up Apple Swift programming in the last 6 months, I'm tempted to do it, but I have 2 other software projects in the works that are occupying my nights and weekends.

 

[TSquare]

No, it needs to sound like a Hellcat or a Raptor. Better yet, make it user changeable. LFA anyone?

I would like to be able to dial up the sound of a V12 Lamborghini Aventador while sitting at a traffic light (next to a Mustang) waiting for the green to come on.

 

[Dutch]

As the specs say "by 2019" I am not expecting this regulation to affect me. If I get my first EV I will disable the noise generating system, because our local traffic laws don't require it. We have enough noise on our roads as it is with gas engine rumbles. I prefer a quiet car that generates no noise at all. Sighless persons are a minority and cannot decide how the rest live and drive. If I see one sightless near the road, I just give a short blast of the regular horn.

There is so much wrong with that statement that I barely know where to start.
1) You are certainly free to disable any sound generators. It's a free country. Of course that also includes the freedom to accept the consequences of your choices.

2) The noisemakers are for 15mph and below, not the 25+ on most streets. Basically we're talking about parking lots here.

3) I like quiet cars, but I have my full compliment of sight and hearing and I still nearly got backed over in a parking lot by a Prius with a broken reverse light because there was simply no way to know that the vehicle was ready to move. I'm all for some kind of "hey I'm capable of moving" warning sound.

4) We used to have laws (Jim Crow) based on "minorities aren't as important". It was not a good time in our history.

5) "Blind" covers a pretty wide spectrum of sight impaired. They don't all wear a sign and walk with a "white" cane, so your assumption that you would recognize them and have the time to alert them is suspect.

 

[SSonnentag]

As the specs say "by 2019" I am not expecting this regulation to affect me. If I get my first EV I will disable the noise generating system, because our local traffic laws don't require it. We have enough noise on our roads as it is with gas engine rumbles. I prefer a quiet car that generates no noise at all. Sighless persons are a minority and cannot decide how the rest live and drive. If I see one sightless near the road, I just give a short blast of the regular horn.

I'm with you, Raymond! We can stand back-to-back and weather the PC storm.

EDIT: A George Jetson sound would be cool though. LOL!

 

[Norton]

I'm with you, Raymond! We can stand back-to-back and weather the PC storm.

Wow, 'PC storm.'
Are you sure it's not just common decency and respect for others?

Karma may not be real either,, but,, you two should wear safety glasses as much as possible, just in case.

 

[SSonnentag]

Wow, 'PC storm.'
Are you sure it's not just common decency and respect for others?

Yep, I'm sure. Common decency is being an attentive driver. Playing nanny is PC stupidity.

-- Safely avoiding blind folks in my silent EV's since 2011.

 

[jeff_h]

EDIT: A George Jetson sound would be cool though. LOL!

I'm a little more old school, would like a low volume "Danger Will Robinson"

 

[llninja]

5) "Blind" covers a pretty wide spectrum of sight impaired. They don't all wear a sign and walk with a "white" cane, so your assumption that you would recognize them and have the time to alert them is suspect.

I work in a college town, so add college students with earbuds and texting to this category. Noisy ice vehicles don't phase them.