Blog
Silicon Valley Nation: Best EV sounds? Start with the Jetsons
Brian Fuller
1/16/2013 12:01 AM EST
SAN FRANCISCO--You've spoken (as have listeners of National Public
Radio), and the verdict is in: If your electric vehicle has to make
sounds at low speeds, you'd prefer the Jetsons. Or one of those
weird Hollywood-inspired alien sounds. Or the old playing
card-in-the-bicycle-spokes sound.
Last week, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration opened the commenting period for proposed mandatory sounds that EVs and PHEVs would have to make under 30 kph an hour. We asked (and NPR must have been peeking over our shoulder) what sounds you'd like to hear coming from EVs.
Here's what EE Times' readers suggested in part (although I'm partial to Walter Greene's comment: " Adding noise is ridiculous.")
Separately, I offered free dev boards to commenters and will be reaching out on email to see if you're interested. If you don't hear from me, feel free to shoot me a note.
Related stories:
--Silicon Valley Nation: What should your EV sound like?
--Silicon Valley Nation: 30-year battery life? Really?
--Silicon Valley Nation: Robot ethics or ours?
--The sound of silence
Last week, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration opened the commenting period for proposed mandatory sounds that EVs and PHEVs would have to make under 30 kph an hour. We asked (and NPR must have been peeking over our shoulder) what sounds you'd like to hear coming from EVs.
Here's what EE Times' readers suggested in part (although I'm partial to Walter Greene's comment: " Adding noise is ridiculous.")
- Ride of the Valkyries (Robotics Developer and MOHAA)
- Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang (eBum)
- Jetsons (Dr. J, Johnspeth,
- Card-in-the-spokes (RxM, Teddyw, Louis.McKean)
- Road Runner's Beep-beep (Dave1010101)
Read on for more clever offerings from inspired engineers.
Over at NPR, listeners had similar ideas.
The federal commenting period runs for another couple of months, so you can make your suggestions even more formal!Separately, I offered free dev boards to commenters and will be reaching out on email to see if you're interested. If you don't hear from me, feel free to shoot me a note.
Related stories:
--Silicon Valley Nation: What should your EV sound like?
--Silicon Valley Nation: 30-year battery life? Really?
--Silicon Valley Nation: Robot ethics or ours?
--The sound of silence
|
|
|
|
|
Navigate to related information
Rick DeMeis
1/16/2013 1:57 PM EST
Hey Brian,
How about letting drivers customize the sound, as I blogged about here (http://www.examiner.com/article/hey-you-loser) a couple of years ago.
Sign in to Reply
dylan.mcgrath
1/16/2013 4:29 PM EST
Rick- I'm with you. Let people choose their own customized sounds like ringtones. That would be funny.
Sign in to Reply
WKetel
2/1/2013 8:37 PM EST
The whole point of demanding that cars make some sound is so that they are identified as cars. Custom sounds as in custom ringtones would totally thwart that concept. What EVs need to sound like is those early inverter drive forklift trucks. A sound like no other, not obtrusive but a bit scary
Sign in to Reply
William Miller
3/27/2013 10:26 AM EDT
Agree. I voted for a moderate sounding exhaust system - not too loud, not too quiet.
____________
William - http://www.carid.com/
Sign in to Reply
K1200LT Rider
1/17/2013 11:42 AM EST
It's bad enough having to listen to all the ridiculous ringtones at work. I surely wouldn't want to hear a constant barrage of random sounds from vehicles. There would always be the small percentage of people who would have to get stupid and try spoken phrases, sirens, chickens, etc. As long as there are humans involved, it has to be strictly controlled.
Sign in to Reply
mr88cet
1/16/2013 2:08 PM EST
I have a serious comment that I'd like to send to this National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study. Do you know how I can submit such feedback to them?
In particular, I want to recommend to them that they not make recommendations not specific to EVs or hybrids, but to any vehicles that make less than so-and-so much sound volume at low speed, regardless of why that may be the case.
Sign in to Reply
mr88cet
1/16/2013 2:09 PM EST
(Oop, one too many "not"s in there: "... that they make recommendations not specific to...")
Sign in to Reply
mr88cet
1/16/2013 2:33 PM EST
Never mind. I think I found a website for submitting comments.
Sign in to Reply
Brian Fuller2
1/16/2013 5:50 PM EST
I'd start here... (http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/DOT+Proposes+New+Minimum+Sound+Requirements+for+Hybrid+and+Electric+Vehicles)... There is at least a contact atop the release.
But more likely is the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/.
Let us know what you find out!
Sign in to Reply
undertheradar85
1/16/2013 2:10 PM EST
Glass packs on a big block Chevy. Or much easier, just get rid of EVs and hybrids.
Sign in to Reply
Work to Ride comma Ride to Work
1/16/2013 2:31 PM EST
The syncopated clops of horse shoes hitting the ground. At 4 mph and below the gait would be a walk. At speeds from 5 mph to 10 mph the sound should transition to a trot. From 10 mph to 17 mph it should be a canter, and speeds from 18 mph to 30 mph the sound should be a gallop. In this way, sight-impaired people will know how fast a vehicle is approaching so they can adjust accordingly.
Sign in to Reply
MrBrentWilliams
1/16/2013 2:45 PM EST
Yes!!! You hit the nail on the head – my thoughts exactly! We can hack the car and install the Clipity Clop (or whatever) sound so “Blind” people will know WHO is approaching – by the sound.
Sign in to Reply
WKetel
2/1/2013 8:41 PM EST
REally though, EVs should be as silent as can be, and people should understand that they need to watch out for them. THis could easily reduce the excess population problem.
Sign in to Reply
CWrobel
1/16/2013 2:50 PM EST
The sound of 2 coconut halves clip-clopping might be better.
Sign in to Reply
Work to Ride comma Ride to Work
1/17/2013 3:34 PM EST
But coconuts are tropical. We live in a temperate zone. How would they get here, an African swallow?
Sign in to Reply
Chris84
1/16/2013 3:51 PM EST
Post the sound links.... I would like to hear the actual suggestions......
Sign in to Reply
1Sparky
1/16/2013 4:21 PM EST
How about a selection of video game tracks like Pac-Man?(or any mp3 or wav. files)
Sign in to Reply
selinz
1/17/2013 12:54 PM EST
If I am told that my car is too quiet, it's going to be a mufflerless harley at 120db.
Sign in to Reply