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Observations: Silent but deadly? Electric cars may be too quiet for pedestrian safety

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Observations: Silent but deadly? Electric cars may be too quiet for pedestrian safety
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Silent but deadly? Electric cars may be too quiet for pedestrian safety

Enjoy (or fear) the silence while it lasts. Battery-driven vehicles are touted for their potential to cut down on harmful emissions spewed for decades by gasoline-powered cars, but electric and hybrid vehicles may be too quiet to be heard by pedestrians, posing a particular danger to people without sight.

Although the relatively low number of electric and hybrid vehicles on the road, as well as the lack of data to link pedestrian injuries to quiet cars, make it difficult to validate these concerns, one option being floated is that of "car tones" to make up for the missing engine noise, reports The New York Times . The Times cites Nissan, Toyota, BMW and plug-in hybrid maker Fisker Automotive ...

Original URL
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=silent-but-deadly-electric-cars-may-2009-10-14

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    • casudi casudi
      2 months ago


      The Tesla has been talking about having a virtual exhaust sound. Pick your flavor?
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      • . .•∞º˙ . .•∞º˙
        2 months ago


        I think they should all sound like a 6 year-old boy attempting to maneuver his hot wheels car up and over the sofa.

        vvvvvrraaarrrhhhhhhhhoooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmm........
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