What should an electric car sound like?

The driving sounds of EVs, explained by the designers who make them.

For over a century, the internal combustion engine powered vehicles with an intricate combination of moving parts and tiny explosions. That combustion process inevitably made noise, and that noise came to define the background soundscape of our roads, cities, and day-to-day life. But as hybrids and EVs became increasingly mainstream — and more of their near-silent electric motors filled the streets — it became clear that silent vehicles didn’t fit in the ecosystem we’d built around cars.

Spearheaded by associations of the blind and visually impaired, legislation eventually began to require electric vehicles to emit an artificial engine noise out of hidden external speakers. These hidden speaker systems, called “Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems” — or AVAS — had to meet certain sonic criteria. But they were also a blank slate for sound designers to decide how the cars of the future should sound.

[daniello]

Sadly, one of the best ideas to improve sound overall, neglected by lawmakers so far, is missing: Make the volume / pressure dependent on ambient noise. EVs are VERY annoying on a quiet morning, especially when backing up, and they scare pedestrians rather than warn them (and wake up neighbours). However, in noisy cities or next to busy streets, EVs can't be heard.

[errorblah]

"Your Bluetooth device is now paired"

[johndeere]

We shouldn’t be making cars louder, we should be making streets safer for people. Cars need to avoid people, not the reverse.

[Fatimarocksman]

Whoever are the graphic / video designers for Vox, deserve immense recognition. I’ve seen nearly every Vox video made the past 4 years and all of them are incredibly captivating without fail. Bravo team

[skylakevan]

In fact, as taxis in large Chinese cities have almost all been replaced by EVs, the noise on the streets has significantly decreased. No matter how quickly taxi drivers accelerate, the electric motors do not produce the piercing noise that gasoline engines make at 3k or 4k RPMs, making the ride much more comfortable for passengers inside the cars.

[casbot]

They need to make a _specific_ noise when they are first started in order to warn cats and other animals that are sheltering under the car. They can be a very high pitched beep that is more audible to various pets, but they need to be a specific sound so that animals can learn it.

[wadafik]

I just realised how silent EVs are a few months ago when i was walking in the middle of the street and turned around to see an EV behind me 😅

[anwarfellahi]

A city with no vehicles noise sounds like a utopia to me 🤩

[andpeggy]

One thing that is important to mention is the impact on blind people/people with reduced vision. If they are by themselves, then sound is one of their key senses in being able to navigate safely, especially when trying to cross the road. Having completely silent cars will reduce their ability to be more independent.

[TheDavidlloydjones]

The important thing is that it have a horn which says "Beep-beep."
Every third time, of course, it says "Beep-beep-beep."

[mattkenney]

This seems a little silly. We already live in a world that is too loud (usually because of cars). I feel like one of the nice things about electric vehicles is the fact they are so quiet especially at slow speeds. We should just focus on making our city streets safer by slowing cars down to the point that as a pedestrian I don’t have to be frantically keeping my head on a swivel for cars making silly electronic noises as they barrel through stop signs and crosswalks

[Tony-pmxo]

New law: in case of AVAS failure EV driver needs to sing on top of their lungs with windows down while driving

[drumcircler]

As a photographer who sneaks up to lakeside at dawn, a quiet vehicle is golden!

[unvergebeneid]

I don't understand why AVAS doesn't dictate that the sound has to be directional. You have to warn people vaguely in front of the vehicle. Not above, behind or next to the vehicle. Let them have peace.

[Mettsemmel]

They are reinventing the wheel while we already had silent vehicles (bicycle) and a solution for how to call someones attention (a bell).
Of course the default car horn is way too loud to signal "look out, I'm coming". EVs should have a different horn for driving slower that's quieter and more pleasant. Then it could be completely silent for 99% of the drive.

[WDSimp]

I kind of want a little electric city car that sounds like The Jetsons car. That seems like it would be fun.

[Lavender_Louis]

But wouldn't we just get used to it after a few decades if we don't make them noisy artificially? I feel like it would be less disruptive in the long run.

[NiekNooijens]

I just always yield to pedestrians and assume they don't hear me.

Instead of having the car make sound, waking up the neighbours, you could also educate the drivers.

[stuartrockin]

I need an EV sound pack with Mr. Crabs' walking noise.

You know what I'm talking about.

[heidicook]

As a blind person, who has almost been hit stepping in front of an early hybrid/ev, i am extremely glad they have this requirement.