[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/evs-must-now-produce-a-sound-by-law\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/evs-must-now-produce-a-sound-by-law\/","headline":"Electric Vehicles Must Now Produce a Sound by Law","name":"Electric Vehicles Must Now Produce a Sound by Law","description":"Any talk of the future of cars and the rise of electric vehicles over the past few years will naturally focus on the green and clean aspect. Recently, I also mentioned the possibility that this advancing automotive technology will also inevitably provide us with ever-quieter roads. Yet the other side of the coin \u2013 a side that any cyclist will be acutely aware of \u2013 is that people tend to walk out into a quiet road without looking or seemingly […]","datePublished":"2019-07-03","dateModified":"2019-07-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Electric-Vehicles-Must-Now-Produce-a-Sound-by-Law-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Electric-Vehicles-Must-Now-Produce-a-Sound-by-Law-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/evs-must-now-produce-a-sound-by-law\/","about":["Cars","ELECTRIC CARS","HYBRID","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":584,"keywords":["Electric Hybrid","electric vehicles","EVs","Hybrid cars"],"articleBody":"Any talk of the future of cars and the rise of electric vehicles over the past few years will naturally focus on the green and clean aspect.Recently, I also mentioned the possibility that this advancing automotive technology will also inevitably provide us with ever-quieter roads. Yet the other side of the coin \u2013 a side that any cyclist will be acutely aware of \u2013 is that people tend to walk out into a quiet road without looking or seemingly even thinking. To counter this worryingly common human trait, from 1 July2019 a new driving law comes into being. As of this day, all new electric andhybrid cars must produce a sound that allows pedestrians and cyclists to beaware of moving vehicles when not seeing them directly \u2013 just as it\u2019s alwaysbeen up until now with standard petrol and diesel vehicles. This is of coursegoing to be a tremendous help to visually impaired pedestrians too.The Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) will be required to be active on vehicles up to a speed of 13mph at a decibel level of at least 56db but no more than 76db, keeping the noise levels comparatively low, but enough to be heard. As for speeds in excess of 13mph, the road noise produced by tyres is considered to be adequate. AVAS will not just be a constant tone though; the system is required to be able to convey acceleration and slowing down. The idea is that those that need to be aware of the vehicle most do not have to go through too much of a new learning curve \u2013 we are all intrinsically aware from an early age what the sound of a speeding up engine is and any change in that might potentially cause confusion which may lead to accidents.The AVAS will use volume and pitch shifting in an upward direction to denote acceleration and the opposite to denote deceleration. Sensors will be used to control the sound – a speed sensor along with a sensor directly in touch with the accelerator pedal.The Acoustic Vehicle Alert System will only be required tobe fitted to all new vehicles, and at present there is no requirement to retrofitthe acoustic warning system to existing EVs. Some basic rules exist though – you won\u2019t be hearing a cacophony of music from all vehicles coming towards you and going past like ice cream vans. It sounds daft, but this is indeed part of the ruling; there is clearly no accounting for logic as regards what some might consider a \u2018warning system\u2019!On a more serious note, it is expected that car manufacturers would no doubt see this an opportunity to advertise as such \u2013 to have a unique signature sound; so you knew when a BMW was about to pass for example. Therefore, rules are there to stop things getting out of hand.Expanding the idea, internal sounds for the occupants of a vehicle are being explored in conjunction with external sounds. While the occupants of a family vehicle will no doubt enjoy the interior cabin silence of an EV, the more sporty electric car driver may want to replicate the sound of an engine within the cabin for a more all round sensory experience.As Hugo Fastl, Professor at TUM Chair for Human-MachineCommunication, says: we\u2019ve spent time developing quieter and quieter cars, butnow it seems we may – if we\u2019re not careful – be looking at a future where thecars are just too quiet."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Electric Vehicles Must Now Produce a Sound by Law","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/evs-must-now-produce-a-sound-by-law\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]