New electric cars will be equipped with an eternal speaker emitting a noise as it drives

FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

July 1st, 2019 marks the introduction of a brand new electric car driving law being introduced in Britain. From this date, all new electric and hybrid cars will legally be equipped with an external sound generator. The reason for this is to make them more easily heard by cyclists and pedestrians. All new EVs will emit an artificial noise as electric cars, especially at low speeds, are relatively silent and hard to hear.

Petrol and diesel cars have an engine rumble which can be heard even at lower speeds and because EVs produce no sound apart from a tyre grumble they could be classed as dangerous. The new EU-mandated system is called an Acoustic Vehicle Alert System, or AVAS. The AVAS systems need to work at speeds of up to 13 mph, and the volume must be at least 56 dB and must not exceed 75db, which is the equivalent noise of a petrol or diesel vehicle. It must be a continuous sound and also be able to convey further messages to pedestrians and cyclists.

For example, it must be able to vary in pitch and volume when a car is accelerating and the reverse when it is decelerating. The system works through speakers at the front and the rear of the vehicle. There are a number of sensors which are used to create the sound - a speed sensor and another sensor on the accelerator pedal. One of the benefits for EV drivers for its owner is the silent cabin and thankfully for them is that the noise will not need to be transmitted inside the car, just outside.

The AVAS system will emit a noise at low speeds up to 13mph