Should electric vehicles be fitted with some auditory safety features?

Posted by Danny1641743@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 25 comments

I was walking across a carpark the other day and an electric car started reversing quite fast, I don't think they where even looking, but I also didn't hear it, luckily I turned my head to the left and spotted it. Why aren't they fitted with some safety feature to allow the public to hear them better. Generally when someone starts their engine in an ICE vehicle, I will look in that direction.

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25 Comments

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Prize-Phrase-7042@reddit

Every new EV is fitted with additional sound effects that play at low speeds - going forward or backwards. I think this became mandatory a few years ago (2021).

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OldBoyShenanigans@reddit

I have an MG EV, apparently, it has the sound effects, but it's still so bloody quiet. I've had so many people step out within a metre or two in front because they didn't hear and didn't look. Have had one or two people walk into the side of my car too....... I had two suits walk out in front of me, stopped right in front of me to continue their conversation. I just sat their with my mouth open asking myself what the fuck were they doing.

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Danny1641743@reddit (OP)

Was a 23 plate Tesla that reversed out and it made no noise, can you turn it off in user settings or something?

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Prize-Phrase-7042@reddit

Not unless you physically disconnect the external speaker, which probably isn't legal.

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_whopper_@reddit

They already are. All EVs must emit a noise when below 12mph or reversing.

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imtheorangeycenter@reddit

I've got a '20 Kia Niro, you can disable the sounds by pressing the ESS button (on each start-up), so it's not "must" but "must by default" I guess?

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_whopper_@reddit

You can disable the interior noise but not the external one.

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imtheorangeycenter@reddit

Sorry, but it deffo turns it off - reversing bongs, the lot. They've removed the switch from '22 onwards though.

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ReciprocatingBadger@reddit

I can corroborate, 2021 Niro has the button to turn off both the annoying spaceship noises and the even more annoying bong bong bong when reversing. Will be annoying as fuck when I eventually get a newer EV that doesn't have the ability to turn the noise off. At least let me choose my noise. I want to pick from the full gamut of internal combustion engine sounds, from a knackered single pot Briggs and Stratton on a mower all the way up to a Deltic locomotive.

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imtheorangeycenter@reddit

Thankyou for confirming my sanity! Yeah, pick you own noise (at least internally if we can't turn that aspect off). A return to ringtones almost, hahaha. Good choices btw.

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ReciprocatingBadger@reddit

😁 also on the list are: Spitfire (Merlin) on takeoff, V8 Scania, 1990s V10 F1 engine, and that lovely smooth V12 that BMW fitted in the 7 and 8 series back in the early 90s.

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imtheorangeycenter@reddit

I forsee the equivilant of buying ringtones. Get sampling!

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davehemm@reddit

Worth noting that some of the noises can be quite subtle and you can be easy to tune out. I have attuned to the sound of Toyota rav4 and c-hr but it immediately apparent if you don't know the noise. Honda CRV is pretty obvious and draws your attention.

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pburgess22@reddit

Not to be rude but perhaps it's worth getting your hearing checked.

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Danny1641743@reddit (OP)

I do regularly at work and it's fine, I can hear the reverse noises in vans and bin lorries, but couldn't hear the electric car reversing, this isn't a diss at EVs, just more me thinking they are extremely quiet.

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DeanoThelasTofus@reddit

For those EVs without audio effects, simple solution. Ice lolly sticks through the back wheels.

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RemoteGlobal005@reddit

Who cares? Electrical vehicles are a dud idea, not because of all of the lithium it takes to make a single battery, but solely because the infrastructure to make it a feesible alternative would near enough bankrupt us. It's a completely dud investment for anyone who's not got their own property with a driveway where a charger can be fitted. In a place like Britain, where we have a substantial number of drivers in urban centres who live crammed together in terraced housing without any sort of allocated parking, creating an ecosystem in which their lives aren't negatively impacted if they were to purchase an electric car is near impossible.

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scorchedegg@reddit

That 'dud' is almost 20% of UK car sales and is rising , albeit at a slower pace than previously. Like it or not, EVs are here for the long term. Yes there are challenges with charging infrastructure, but nothing that cannot be overcome. We have pretty muchdoubled the number of chargers in the last 12 months alone (20,000 to 35,000) .

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_whopper_@reddit

Even if they're a dud, you still might want to hear one when it's driving at you.

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RemoteGlobal005@reddit

I agree. I'm just not a huge fan of making EV's the new transportation system of the future, I like the idea of putting a better emphasis on reliable, affordable and well connected public transport.

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_whopper_@reddit

why not both, especially since the government isn't paying for EVs.

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crapusername47@reddit

I have the reverse opinion - I think petrol cars should be noise tested at MOT time and car stereo systems should have electronic noise limits imposed while in residential areas.

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ashyjay@reddit

They already are and it's been a thing since the Lead, and even hybrids have them. the sound turns on below 12mph or in reverse.

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Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit

I think quite many are?

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