Electric cars are quiet. Maybe too quiet.
SOMETHING HEAVY THIS WAY COMES: The Fisker Karma has speakers in the bumpers for safety sounds. (Photo: Harry Nl/Flickr)
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Comments(27)
Posted By wrtmania - Wed, Oct 28 2009 at 2:32 PM ESTVroom, vroom
I like the vroomtones idea! I also like the idea that as speeds increase the (assumed) need for extra noise decreases. I'm also hoping that the ambient noise level would be less (and directed forward?!?) than that of current internal explosion vehicles. Failing the above, I'm votin' for the sound of the Jetson's 'cars'....
Posted By Ivy - Tue, Oct 20 2009 at 9:23 PM EST?????
Why a good ideas like ELECTRICAL CAR has to come in company of an idea that silly like this sound of insanity??? buuu that sounds gonna get us even more distracted......
Cheers
www.greentimes.com.au
Posted By yogacraig - Sat, Oct 17 2009 at 6:43 PM ESTOM
The sound of one car moving should be the sound of one hand clapping. I know its radical, maybe people could just pay attention.
Posted By Kenneth Sherrill - Sat, Oct 17 2009 at 9:19 AM ESTCar Sound
I think they should all sound like the cars in the Jetsons, i have always loved how those sounded... kinda soothing...
Posted By Anonymous - Sat, Oct 17 2009 at 8:31 AM ESTSERIOUSLY?
Its called a horn...people step out in front of buses because they aren't paying attention. People should look both ways before crossing and drivers should be paying attention to blow their horn or maneuver. This is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. Why is the world full of retards?
Posted By Omar Stoltzfus - Fri, Oct 16 2009 at 6:44 PM ESTQuiet down already
Here in Arizona we've taken perfectly good freeways and paved them with rubberized asphalt. Why? To reduce traffic noise. Most of the noise coming from cars is due to tire noise. Pedestrians almost always have the right of way. Perhaps drivers should just hangup and drive!
Posted By BJL - Fri, Oct 16 2009 at 5:39 PM ESTRemember...
Remember playing cards in a bicycle wheel? It won't disturb the neighbors if you come home late, but it would cause a pedestrian to take note.
Posted By Monica - Fri, Oct 16 2009 at 3:53 PM ESTWhat's wrong with quiet?
I do not agree that cars need to make noise to keep pedestrians safe. Perhaps putting a sensor on key intersections to signal oncoming traffic would work for those who are visually impaired.
Posted By Vintagesquirrel - Fri, Oct 16 2009 at 2:30 PM ESTSwish!
I suggest a soft "swishing" sound, similar to the sound of the wind rustling through trees. Also, the sound should start real soft and get louder as the car accelerates.
Posted By MNN User - Sat, Oct 17 2009 at 1:57 AM ESTAgree
Though I would think more along the lines of the wind an object creates as it is moving through the air. Like when you ride your bicycle and the wind rushes past your ears as you go along. I am so tuned into that noise being associated with any car that I am always looking over my shoulder for cars when I ride my bicycle, and that is the noise I listen for when I walk. I also listen for tire noise, but that depends on the ground surface and the weather conditions, unlike the artificial wind.... More
Posted By Jeff McGuiness - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 7:40 PM ESTVroomtones
I like the sound of Vroomtones. Phones Ring and Cars Vroom. When I say Cartones I feel like I am saying cartoons.
My wife didnt know what the heck I was talking about. She then said, "Oh Vroomtones". I said yeah thats pretty cool huh? She said "If mine can sound like a horse trotting that would be cool"
I agree. As long as they turn off after 12mph or around there and there is a mandated level of sound. I think its fine. I live in the city and no one regulates the harleys that shake.... More
Posted By Anonymous - Sat, Oct 17 2009 at 12:36 AM ESTNEW CAR NOISE
DESIGN A CONOSTOGA WAGON WITH 4 OXEN HORSEPOWER [THEY MAKE THEIR OWN NOISE]
Posted By Barbara Swail - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 4:20 PM ESTEurope has it figured out
Spend a day in Munich or any other large European city and listen to the soft pleasant swishing sound the cars make. DO NOT LET INDIVIDUALS CUSTOMIZE THEIR OWN CAR SOUNDS. That way lies madness and road rage.
Posted By Melissa - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 2:19 PM ESTBUZZZZZ
Enter your comments here A Giant Bumble Bee sound that is somewhat "mechanical". The sound has to change pitch because some folks cannot hear various ranges. We are conditioned to be cautious around a huge bee.
Posted By Green Bean - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 1:56 PM ESTI don't know
I really can't come up with anything that would not just get on my last nerve over time...besides the normal sounds of an engine....maybe just make it buzz a little louder!
Posted By Ron Koenig - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 1:39 PM ESTSounds
Any kind of white sound would be good. If the user could select the sound, that would be nifty. There should be a limit on how loud the sound can be, and no messages (said or sung) should be allowed.
Posted By Dave Crowlie - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 11:38 AM ESTWatching the River Flow
First choice: the sound of flowing water. Second: cheapest would be to amplify the whirring noise of the electric motor.
Posted By CoCreatr - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 10:34 AM ESTStartled by ultraquiet vehicles?
How to protect pedestrians (especially those with headphones blaring) from - gasp, pant - ultraquiet bicycles? Or a Segway approaching? Easy: You don't. Less easy: just unplug and hear the "pling!" Or shout.
Approaching in a car? Gas, electric, hybrid, warp drive, no matter what: be ready to brake and - honk for danger.
Posted By Denise Lawrence - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 12:46 AM ESTBase Booms make cars noisy enough
Enter your comments hereA Lot of the cars here seem to be making TONS of noise as it is from their basses booming music and shaking the windows of my house. I'm sure there is some pleasant sound that could be emitted.......
Posted By Bob Wilson - Wed, Oct 14 2009 at 7:24 PM ESTSound of insanity
We are already testing sound emitting cars with today's gas-only vehicles. The experimental results are 4,500 pedestrians die already and repeating the sound experiment with hybrids and expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity.
Posted By GeenGirl - Wed, Oct 14 2009 at 7:38 PM ESTI hear you (ha ha)
You're right that regular old cars make a whole bunch of sound and yet thousands of people are hit by them a year. But I do think there needs to be some warning that they're coming. I used to live in Portland, OR and our light rail was great...but they had trouble for awhile with people getting hit by the train simply because they didn't know it was coming. I think they ended up adding some sort of sound to it....though I'm not sure what.
Posted By Anonymous - Wed, Oct 14 2009 at 7:15 PM ESTWhat is Ms. Gioia upset about?
The Enterprise is a pretty heavy object. How many people would ignore the sound of a continent-sized starship hurtling toward them?
Posted By Momof2 - Wed, Oct 14 2009 at 7:33 PM ESTI get what she means.....
but a 2000 pound song bird might get your attention.
Posted By Pamela Drake - Wed, Oct 14 2009 at 6:46 PM ESTI'd go with sounds of nature...
...perhaps the top bird per state (based on how many cars are sold in that state....regions could compete.)
Posted By Max Davies - Wed, Oct 14 2009 at 6:48 PM ESTI like the bird idea
it'd give birds a bit more power in the world....ignore the sound of a bluebird or cardinal and you'll be flattened.
Posted By Phil Signet - Wed, Oct 14 2009 at 6:38 PM ESTHow about.....
...the sound of affluence? Because that's about the only people who can afford these cars.
no sound
We are entering a new era of clean transportation, one of the BENEFITS is lowered noise congestion in urban areas.Why on earth should we be adding noise to these vehicles. Its ultimatly up to the individual for his or her own safety. Remember what your mother taught you "look both ways before you cross the street". Come on people!!!!