Are electric cars dangerous? Too quiet!
Discussion
As good as an electric and hybrids seem to be there is one problem I think that seems to come with them. The guy who owns the house next door has a electric golf and zips around the corner and he has come close to hitting a few people as you can't hear him! He just appears and 30mph in silence.
While going to my daughter's nativity last night there was an outlander PHEV accelerating too hard into a busy school and because of the instant torque and lack of sound, I was just thinking these cars have a dangerous flaw as people had to jump out the way. They go so quickly from a standing start coupled with the lack of sound!
I haven't driven one but wondered if anyone had any experience of this issue?
I remember 4 years ago an architect telling me the had massive issues with insurers a Renault Zoe because some insurers have recognised this risk of hitting people as they are so quiet and won't cover some electric cars.
While going to my daughter's nativity last night there was an outlander PHEV accelerating too hard into a busy school and because of the instant torque and lack of sound, I was just thinking these cars have a dangerous flaw as people had to jump out the way. They go so quickly from a standing start coupled with the lack of sound!
I haven't driven one but wondered if anyone had any experience of this issue?
I remember 4 years ago an architect telling me the had massive issues with insurers a Renault Zoe because some insurers have recognised this risk of hitting people as they are so quiet and won't cover some electric cars.
I heard someone describe them as ‘whispering death’.
In theory it would be nice to reduce noise pollution in residential areas. But I agree that they are too quiet.
However my biggest worry is that they will address this by adding an electronic warning. It’s bad enough when lorrys are beeping or shouting ‘this vehicle is reversing’. Imagine the cacophony of beeping EV hatchbacks filling our streets
In theory it would be nice to reduce noise pollution in residential areas. But I agree that they are too quiet.
However my biggest worry is that they will address this by adding an electronic warning. It’s bad enough when lorrys are beeping or shouting ‘this vehicle is reversing’. Imagine the cacophony of beeping EV hatchbacks filling our streets
Edited by SpudLink on Friday 14th December 09:26
eybic said:
I'm sure there are EV's that emit some sort of white noise when moving, I've definitely noticed the noise when it drove past
I think BMW have that on their i8 (probably other models, too).Not only does it generate a fake engine noise, it emits a noise from the front specifically to warn pedestrians of its presence.
I was thinking the same thing this morning.
In car parks when you walk behind a row of parked cars you look out for cars with drivers in them/smoke from exhaust/engine noise and take care when walking behind those or at least get ready to leap out the way of they start to reverse. But EV don't give those clues so anyone reversing carelessly is more likely to reverse over someone.
Maybe EV should by law emit a noise when reversing at least. Or make reverse in to parking spaces the law as some companies already mandate for H&S reasons!
Still a few thousand people killed by being run over by EV will be more than compensated for by the seventy quad squillion whose lives will be saved through lower emissions ;-)
In car parks when you walk behind a row of parked cars you look out for cars with drivers in them/smoke from exhaust/engine noise and take care when walking behind those or at least get ready to leap out the way of they start to reverse. But EV don't give those clues so anyone reversing carelessly is more likely to reverse over someone.
Maybe EV should by law emit a noise when reversing at least. Or make reverse in to parking spaces the law as some companies already mandate for H&S reasons!
Still a few thousand people killed by being run over by EV will be more than compensated for by the seventy quad squillion whose lives will be saved through lower emissions ;-)
I’m pretty sure there’s another thread on this somewhere.
I suspect the problem isn’t “the car is quiet” but more “the driver is a dick”
eybic said:
I'm sure there are EV's that emit some sort of white noise when moving, I've definitely noticed the noise when it drove past
It’s a requirement in many parts of the world. I suspect the problem isn’t “the car is quiet” but more “the driver is a dick”
Sounds more like people driving like a t
t, rather than anything to do with what car they're driving.
They are quiet, but so are some petrol ICE cars.
There are so many diesels on the roads these days - the norm has become a loud rattly tractor sound acting like a cattle bell.
Pedestrians need to get used to quiet cars, and drivers need to recognise how quiet their cars are around pedestrians, and drive accordingly.
t, rather than anything to do with what car they're driving.They are quiet, but so are some petrol ICE cars.
There are so many diesels on the roads these days - the norm has become a loud rattly tractor sound acting like a cattle bell.
Pedestrians need to get used to quiet cars, and drivers need to recognise how quiet their cars are around pedestrians, and drive accordingly.
I've had a few Outlander PHEVs and they all have an audible white noise/hum that they emit when in EV mode. Despite this, it never ceased to amaze me at how many times people would look me in the eye and still step out in front of me - I guess people assume that movement must come with noise, and if that noise is missing, the vehicle can not me moving.
I think the sound of a screaming V10 should be played at all times when in EV mode. Or Ride of the Valkyries....
I think the sound of a screaming V10 should be played at all times when in EV mode. Or Ride of the Valkyries....
JB8 said:
Sounds more like people driving like a tt, rather than anything to do with what car they're driving.
They are quiet, but so are some petrol ICE cars.
There are so many diesels on the roads these days - the norm has become a loud rattly tractor sound acting like a cattle bell.
Pedestrians need to get used to quiet cars, and drivers need to recognise how quiet their cars are around pedestrians, and drive accordingly.
Have you driven a BMW 1/2/318I WITH THE 1.5 3 CYLINDER TURBO UNIT? They sound awful and have the narrowest power band is tiny. However if you drive like a coffin dodger you can get 50mpg.t, rather than anything to do with what car they're driving.They are quiet, but so are some petrol ICE cars.
There are so many diesels on the roads these days - the norm has become a loud rattly tractor sound acting like a cattle bell.
Pedestrians need to get used to quiet cars, and drivers need to recognise how quiet their cars are around pedestrians, and drive accordingly.
SS2. said:
I think BMW have that on their i8 (probably other models, too).
Not only does it generate a fake engine noise, it emits a noise from the front specifically to warn pedestrians of its presence.
Which manufacturers currently channel a fake engine noise through the stereo into the cabin (because their petrol engines sound a bit crap) ?Not only does it generate a fake engine noise, it emits a noise from the front specifically to warn pedestrians of its presence.
Ford (Fiesta ST) and Renault (Clio RS) amongst others ?
The system just needs to be adapted for electric cars - with fake noise channeled outside.
A BMW i3 mimicking the sound of a McLaren MP4/15 F1 car (V10 with a banshee wail) would probably do the job
Sounds to me like dheads have started driving EVs. Finally, mainstream!
Yes, EV can be difficult for some vulnerable road users to hear which is why the EU now mandates an external noise at low speed (and many cars did before the mandate).
But the majority of users should not fail to spot an appropriately driven (i.e. not a dhead) 1.5ton car with daytime running lights.
heads have started driving EVs. Finally, mainstream!Yes, EV can be difficult for some vulnerable road users to hear which is why the EU now mandates an external noise at low speed (and many cars did before the mandate).
But the majority of users should not fail to spot an appropriately driven (i.e. not a d
head) 1.5ton car with daytime running lights.MikeStroud said:
In car parks when you walk behind a row of parked cars you look out for cars with drivers in them/smoke from exhaust/engine noise and take care when walking behind those or at least get ready to leap out the way of they start to reverse. But EV don't give those clues so anyone reversing carelessly is more likely to reverse over someone.
Maybe EV should by law emit a noise when reversing at least. Or make reverse in to parking spaces the law as some companies already mandate for H&S reasons!
Still a few thousand people killed by being run over by EV will be more than compensated for by the seventy quad squillion whose lives will be saved through lower emissions ;-)
What I'd they did something really radical, like had a bright white light on the back of vehicles that only illuminated when cars were in reverse!Maybe EV should by law emit a noise when reversing at least. Or make reverse in to parking spaces the law as some companies already mandate for H&S reasons!
Still a few thousand people killed by being run over by EV will be more than compensated for by the seventy quad squillion whose lives will be saved through lower emissions ;-)
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