Out of all the topics dominating the discussions over the adoption of electric cars these days, it's a tad surprising that one of the most talked-about has nothing to do with climate change, a revamping of the near lifeless American auto industry nor reducing the dependence on foreign oil. Instead, a good deal of talk is hovering around the amount of noise the cars will make (or lack there of).
If you've been in an electric car (or more probably a hybrid) you've probably noticed that they are remarkably quiet. The engine noise is significantly lower in an electric engine than in a combustion engine. For a quick example, simply compare the noise of an electric mower to a gas-powered one. Big difference. My mother once rented a hybrid and repeatedly forgot whether or not the car was one since it gave no clear indication.
Of course, the main concern over the lack of engine noise is not immediately directed at the driver being able to hear the engine, but moreso the people outside of the car. While having all the cars on the road run silently would have wonderful significance for noise pollution, it is not very safe.
When cars are loud you can hear them coming and stay away. After all, in a fight between human and moving vehicle, the moving vehicle often wins. If all cars ran silently, an upsurge in collisions with people could almost be guaranteed. Furthermore, other cars wouldn't necessarily be able to sense the quiet cars either.
This particular issue has a special significance for me that is probably shared by millions of others throughout the world. I'm a cyclist; both urban and distance. City roads and highways are already dangerous enough for cyclists, but imagine what it would be like if cyclists couldn't hear any of the cars coming by. A few days ago I went on a bike tour on the highways near Peterborough and cars, trucks and trailers went whizzing by me quite often. Because they are loud, I was able to prepare myself for having a semi-trailer fly-by inches away from me. If it had been silent, I would not be expecting it and I could very well be lying flat on the highway right now.
This is not a secret. So policymakers have been tossing about ideas as to what to do about it. The most common and popular choice seems to be requiring that each car be equipped with a sound making device. A letter to the editor in the most recent issue of The Economist took it one step further. A man from Victoria, BC (whose name I've forgotten) expressed the idea of "Vroomtones". Similar to ringtones for a cellphone, Vroomtones could be customizable noises your car could make. The possibilities are endless. Want to sound like a Ferrari? Or maybe a motorcycle noise is your thing? How about a tidal wave or a series of small explosions?
Electric cars might not be the fastest things on the road, but they'll sure sound like it.
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