Pedestrians
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Less than two years from now, barring action by the Trump administration, a National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration rule will require hybrid and electric cars to produce an audible noise under 19 mph. Alongside its Nissan IMx self-driving electric SUV concept it launched at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, the maker of the world's highest-volume electric car revealed its interpretation of what future electric cars will sound like. Or, perhaps, what they will sing: Nissan calls it "Canto," and it will be the official sound of Nissan's future electric cars. DON'T MISS: Electric-car noise...
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Electric-car noise rules to be canceled under Trump deregulation plan?
Modern electric cars have been on U.S. roads for seven years or so, and owners love their smooth, quiet, close to noise-free operation. That silence has been a bone of contention for even longer, however, since hybrids operating purely on battery power are similarly quiet. For years, the U.S...
John Voelcker -
Feds issue mandatory-noise rule for new electric, hybrid cars
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finally issued mandatory-noise rules for so-called "quiet cars."
Stephen Edelstein -
'Quiet Car' Rules To Make Hybrids, Electric Cars Noisy Delayed, Again
Regulators will delay finalization of "quiet car" rules until next year.
Stephen Edelstein -
Electric Minimalism: Laptop-Size Electric Skateboard Scoots You Around
The WalkCar is a small battery-powered skateboard from Japan.
Stephen Edelstein -
Quiet-Car Noise Rules For Hybrid, Electric Cars To Be Finalized This Fall
Long-delayed rules for electric cars, hybrids, and other "quiet cars" will be finalized by November.
Stephen Edelstein -
For some time now there’s been a battle raging between politicians, advocacy groups and the electric car industry over compulsory noise-makers in electric cars. Now the latest twist comes courtesy of Ford, which has announced that its 2012 Ford Focus Electric will initially ship without any on-board pedestrian alert systems. The reason? Ford’s bosses say noisemakers just aren’t needed. At the moment, legislation is making its way through Congress to mandate that all plug-in vehicles and hybrids be fitted with artificial noise-makers to alert pedestrians that an quiet car is...
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Pedestrian Alert Noises Coming To Hybrid And Electric Cars, Needed Or Not
If you like the idea of hybrid or electric cars that whir silently down the road without the noise of an engine exploding gasoline thousands of times each minute, you'd better act fast. The U.S. government is moving inexorably toward a rule requiring all hybrid and electric cars to make noise...
John Voelcker -
Ford To Facebook Fans: “How Should The 2012 Focus Electric Sound?”
The days of the almost silent electric car are gone. Motivated by a severe case of liticaphobia - or the fear of lawsuits - the auto industry has already agreed that electric cars should have some form of audible warning system fitted as standard to alert pedestrians of their approach. But while...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Toyota Prius To Make Noise During Electric Running, in Japan
In another step toward making silent electric cars less so, Toyota Prius hybrids sold in Japan are to be offered with an optional system that broadcasts a "humming" noise outside the car whenever it operates solely on electricity. The system is Toyota's response to the fears of blind people that...
John Voelcker