Quiet Electric Cars Called Safety Hazard - While the debate is open as to whether or not electric cars are actually better for the environment, it’s a fact that electric car motors are quieter than gasoline engines. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed requirements for electric vehicles and hybrid cars to use alert sounds that would warn pedestrians. The announcement, which came in the form of a posted notice on the NHTSA website, represented the first steps toward creation of a set of rules that would protect pedestrians and bike riders from near-silent electric vehicles. The regulation would make it mandatory for light-duty cars, motorcycles, vans, and trucks to sound alerts when traveling at low speeds. Further dealer resources available at Mission Viejo Audi Parts. The new rules are the result of concerns about the safety hazards that hybrid and electric vehicles pose to pedestrians that have been raised for a number of years by NHTSA and advocates for the visually impaired. A study from the University of California at Riverside suggests that it’s not not only blind pedestrians who are at risk – slow-moving hybrid vehicles can get 40 percent closer to pedestrians than a gasoline-powered car before they’re detected.
“Even as we make giant leaps forward with hybrid and electric vehicles, we must remain laser focused on safety,” NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said in a statement. “With more and more quiet vehicles on the road, we have to consider their effect on pedestrians.” The move was ordered under the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010, which gives NHTSA until July 4, 2012 to write the specific standards of the noise regulation. It also specifies that the agency publish a final rule that would require alerts and set standards for them by January 2014. The new standards would take effect within three years of the final rule’s publication.
Two earlier administration reports on electric vehicles found that quiet electric and hybrid vehicles constituted a bigger safety hazard to visually-impaired pedestrians than conventional gas-powered vehicles. Safety advocates have expressed concern for some time regarding these pedestrians being in danger at crosswalks and other areas these vehicles operate at low speeds. Automakers have recognized the safety issues and the need for electric vehicles to alert pedestrians of their presence with audible warnings. Audi Newport Beach has all the information you need when purchasing a new car. Dieter Zetsche, the chief executive of Daimler AG, manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz cars, said in a recent interview that Daimler is exploring the idea of amplifying the sounds that electric vehicles make rather than producing an artificial sound.
“America’s streets must be safe for everyone who uses them,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “As we improve the environment with cleaner cars, we must also consider how it affects those on bikes and on foot.” The Society of Automotive Engineers, a global association of engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries, is developing standards for warning sounds that automakers could use in their vehicles. The NHTSA notice says the agency will explore several options, including a synthetic sound, a system that mimics the noise of an internal combustion engine at low speeds, or a combination of the two.
Currently, the Chevrolet Volt has a warning system for pedestrians, although the system is off by default and must be activated by drivers. According to GM spokesman Rob Peterson, future versions of the Volt are likely to incorporate an active warning system. The Nissan Leaf emits a high-pitched whine at low speeds that mimics an electric motor and makes a chirp when the car is in reverse. Ford is letting people vote on Facebook to decide which sounds will be made by the electric Focus. porsche dealership los angeles is a great source for all your automotive needs. In the UK, the Nissan Leaf’s warning system is illegal, as current UK law states that reverse warning sounds on trucks and buses must be capable of being disabled between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Since the Leaf’s warning system isn’t capable of being customized, the system must be removed entirely before the model can be sold in that country. In 2010, Japan recommended that electric vehicles, fuel-cell vehicles, and hybrids capable of running exclusively on electric motors be required to include sound alerts. Among hybrids, the new Infiniti M35h hybrid contains a noise system and the new Hyundai Sonata makes a synthesized gasoline engine noise when it’s running on electric only.
Photos (top to bottom) courtesy of GM, Nissan Motor Company Ltd, Hyundai Motor Company.
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