NHTSA Decides That EVs Shouldn’t Be Quiet — Have To Include Fake Sounds

November 17th, 2016 by James Ayre

In a move sure to irritate many people, the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has moved to create a new federal safety standard that will require auto manufacturers to ensure that all newly manufactured hybrid and electric light-duty vehicles released on and after September 1, 2019, are equipped with an audible alert system — intended to make up for the fact that electric vehicles are by their nature fairly quiet.

So, the new federal standard is intended to ensure that one of the best qualities of electric vehicles — that they are very quiet — is “addressed” by auto manufacturers through the use of noise-making machines/features … at low speeds anyways. The federal standard requires that all hybrid or electric vehicles with 4 wheels and a gross vehicle weight of under 10,000 lbs make audible noise when going forward or in reverse at speeds of up to ~19 miles per hour.

The standard doesn’t apply to higher speeds, as the NHTSA has decided that tire and wind noise at higher speeds is sufficient.

Interestingly, the federal standard doesn’t seem to apply to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, despite the fact that some newer ICE vehicles are quite quiet.

The thinking behind the standard is that it will “help pedestrians who are blind, have low vision, and other pedestrians detect the presence, direction and location of these vehicles when they are traveling at low speeds, which will help prevent about 2,400 pedestrian injuries each year once all hybrids in the fleet are properly equipped.”

“We all depend on our senses to alert us to possible danger,” commented US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “With more, quieter hybrid and electrical cars on the road, the ability for all pedestrians to hear as well as see the cars becomes an important factor of reducing the risk of possible crashes and improving safety.”

As noted above, auto manufacturers have until September 1, 2019, to equip all of their new hybrid and electric vehicles with the necessary sound/warning systems. What wasn’t noted above, though, is that “half of new hybrid and electric vehicles must be in compliance one year before the final deadline.”

So, half must be in compliance by September 1, 2018 — not even 2 years from now.

“Having raised concerns on behalf of blind Americans about the dangers posed by silent hybrid and electric vehicles, the National Federation of the Blind is extremely pleased that technical specifications for a safe level of sound to be emitted by such vehicles have now been issued,” stated Mark A Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “The full implementation of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 will protect all pedestrians, especially the blind, as well as cyclists. This regulation will ensure that blind Americans can continue to travel safely and independently as we work, learn, shop, and engage in all facets of community life.”

The new federal standard is known as Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 141 — those wanting to find out more can do so here.

Photo by Cynthia Shahan for CleanTechnica | EV Obsession | Important Media











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