Quiet electric cars are good but not necessarily safe. For instance, you can just hit a pedestrian with an electric car and they will not be able to foresee it. Of course, this does not happen often but it is still a matter of concern.
No matter whether it is about the visually impaired pedestrians, bicyclists, or other fellow drivers – Electric cars need to make some kind of noises to let others know of their presence.
So, giving a thought on that, a US road safety body (as originally reported by BBC) told that the owners of electric cars should be able to choose the ‘engine’ sound for their quiet electric cars. Also, it stated that the silent cars must generate noise when traveling at less than 19 mph.
This also adds to the possibility of having electric cars having minimal noises right from the factory in the near future, which is a good thing.
Manufacturers were given the deadline for the noise requirement till 1 September 2019. Now, it has been extended to 2020.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also looking into the matter and asking the public of the possible sounds a car can make and how loud they are (or should be).
However, some car makers have stepped up to make changes. Porsche offers a ~500 USD upgrade to make the engine sound like a petrol engine. On the other hand, Mitsubishi and Mercedes already have options for its electric car to make engine sounds.
While manufacturers are working to make their silent machines a bit noisy, NHTSA is looking for public’s feedback set up everything possible to provide what car owners/pedestrians want.
What do you think about this? Do you agree on the fact that Electric cars should generate some noises for safety concerns?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
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