Not cool...

There has been a lot of talk about how do we make EVs safer for pedestrians, I agree with this but why are we only focused on EVs?  Why don't we add sound to hybrids that can coast silently at low speeds, and what of some of the luxury cars that make no sound, not even tire noise that can be detected easily.

I've watched a few videos that show EVs being tested with artificial sound...some of it is just ridiculously bad.  I've got to wonder who are these engineers in charge of these projects, if indeed there are any involved. The sounds that some of these manufacturers choose are awful and scream fake.  Why add engine noise to a car that is naturally quiet?  That is not the answer.  Auto manufacturers need to work together to come up with a solution just like they are doing with battery technology.  Do this right guys - so far what I've seen is a big disappointment.

Yes I know this may be put into law but that does not give manufacturers the excuse to take short cuts with this.

Honestly, I'm sure even with the best safety technology a pedestrian will get hit with an EV one day and the media will have a field day calling them EVil, etc.   Maybe I'll be able to put my own sounds into my EV, I could play Ride of the Valkyries or the theme music from Jaws.

Whatever...

Hear that??

Wow is the ActiveE quiet...I mean really quiet. When you have the windows up and nothing else turned on it is like a cocoon. You hear everything, mostly new sounds that you never heard before because there was an engine drowning it out. For example, turning on the high beams....listen for it. The wiper motor, the loudness of the climate control and objects hitting the windshield...yes that.

So I was driving home along my normal route and it was pretty buggy out...normal spring evening...nothing out of the ordinary. I hear this noise that sounds like rain on the windshield...it is not raining...soon I realized it was bugs hitting the windshield, EVERY bug hitting the windshield. Ummm yeah...kinda icky but kinda interesting at the same time since I could now hear each and every bug going to bug heaven by my doing....that is a quiet car.

Want to freak yourself out...turn the ActiveE off (windows and doors closed) and everything else off and sit and wait. Things start to either open or close deep inside the car...yeah, its very much alive.