Visually impaired protest noiseless hybrid vehicles.

I guess the hybrids will end up having to put something like deer whistles (but within the human audio range) on them.
(There's got to be something better than that ... maybe a small transmitter on the cars and a receiving wristband for the visually imaired)
What about the Olfactory Impaired, they won't be able to smell the cars coming either ... Na, now that just doesn't make sense does it.

I can see where they're coming from (no pun intended), I'm sure something can be worked out, I doubt that there's any problem with hearing a hybrid at any rate of speed due to tire noise but if close and moving slow as near a crosswalk that's where the problem lies.

I can see it now ... a new law that all hybrids must be equipped with the same loud obnoxious noise makers that Ice Cream Trucks have.
or ... All hybrids must be equipped with playing cards and clothes pins which strike the spokes to create a motor sound.

Dave B

MB-1-E
Electric - Bridgestone MB-1 Mountain Bike

Yep, its an area that will have to be tackled in advance by the EV industry. I've read on UK & Irish chatboards where one or two EVT users were knocked off by pesky pedestrians. Maybe we should just get militantly busy mowing em down, just like cageragers. Hmmm, not such a good deal for the ebiker! However, Smith Vehicles in UK (making electric Transit size cargo vans) who used to be an electric milk float company, are having to engineer noise into their design due to driver concerns at trundling along in a silent tank! www.smithelectricvehicles.com. Incidentally, check out these new UK vans, could be imported, but I believe they're assembled in UK www.modec.co.uk. Would be nice to deliver the electric mopeds in an electric van. More congruent than pulling up in a big diesel isn't it?

Overall, its a concern that just has to be tackled and defused. Just like 'What if I run out of charge when I'm out and about or up a trail with my electric quad?' This requires counting to ten before answering. Because it does get asked.

Okay Dave, I really like your comment on the "noiseless hybrid vehicles"
I just found it too comical and got a kick out of it.
Unfortunately knowing the state of California (which I reside in) they are most likely to create something as a new law for the visually impaired. I especially like the hybrid comment with playing cards & clothes pins lol.
Because really how many of us when we were kids use to do that to our own bicycles? I know I did!! Thanks Dave

Alternatively one can always shout "get out of the way I'm coming through!" Also there's always the horn - you know the device you're supposed to use to notify those others of your presence (not it's normal usage I know!)

All I need is some stupid chime to tell others I'm riding a quiet vehicle - that would put an end to my EV riding quicker than anything!

If someone runs over a blind person, it's not the EV's fault. Someone wasn't paying attention.

What about bicycle riders? You don't hear those until you've already sent one crashing to the pavement. And in NY, those little buggers are weaving in and out of traffic, not focused in any one lane and apparently not subject to vehicle laws.

Cards in the spokes... would that be aftermarket or a dealer installed option?

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Revolution Electric Vehicles, LLC hereby pledges to beat BaseStationZero's price for cards to put in the spokes.

Now, that should speed up adoption, right?

LOL!

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Hmm,... don't know about other states, but in WA, its the VEHICLE OPERATOR'S responsibility to prevent his/her vehicle from hitting pedestrians, regardless of their sensory, physical, or mental abilities/disabilities.

Okay this is why I miss driving a patrol vehicle, usually the siren and the PA system gets their attention

We have a Prius and I gotta say it's nice being silent, but can be a problem at time. Many times I've been stuck behind a pedestrian in a parking lot who has no idea I'm behind them. If I honk my horn, they get annoyed/mad, so I usually just wait until they get out of the way. I'd like to install a little bell like on a kids bike, just loud enough for them to know I'm there but not load enought to offend.

LOL!

Just rev up your engine. They'll turn around to see where the sewing machine noise is coming from.

I have a small motorcycle horn mounted to the firewall in the engine compartment. It's just loud enough to get a pedestrian's attention. Might be an idea for others.

A little beep is usually all it takes to get someone's attention; if not, I flip a switch and hit the air horns.

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I'd go for the cadillac deal and ask for custom sounds. How about sounds out of speaker that sounds like huffing and puffing? For an electric car I'd like something that says: "non smoking car approaching...", perhaps with a digital voice.

http://www.fun-ev.com

If someone runs over a blind person, it's not the EV's fault. Someone wasn't paying attention.

I've been in a couple dozen car accidents from minor to...er...twice being transported on a backboard in the back of an ambulance to an emergency room. With that vast experience the lesson I've drawn is that the common factor in all traffic accidents is: Someone wasn't paying attention.

You can spin it with all kinds of justifications and rationalizations .. but that's what they all boil down to.

Nobody wants to be in a car accident. Trust me, it hurts a lot when a car hits you. Since nobody wants it to happen, why does it happen? Insufficient paying attention to the road and traffic.

- David Herron, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, http://www.7gen.com/store
- EVT 4000, Charger bike (rebuilt), Vego 600sx (rebuilt), Electrified Electra Townie
- Lectra motorcycle

This may be another reason for adding a small Series-Hybrid On-Board-Generator (perhaps converted to running on slightly cleaner propane?).

I'm planning on building an E-motorcycle, and I thought it would be fun to mount the stock chrome exhaust pipes to the front of the battery, so this post gives an idea...an MP3 hooked up to an amp and speaker that broadcasts the sound of a motorcycle idling, and when I push a button, its the sound of a race motorcycle revving and shifting (I had a bicycle like this when I was 5)

How about the sound of a jet ?

A motor has an interesting sound to itself. If you hook a transistor/amp up to a lead on the motor, you can run a speaker off it and hear what the signal sounds like. Maybe modulate it with some caps or inductors to make an interesting sound. It would have to be on the low side (the one that isn't modulated) to actually hear what it sounds like, though. Otherwise, you'd hear a smoothed out square wave. Unless it was a brushless or AC motor.

The author of this post isn't responsible for any injury, disability or dismemberment, death, financial loss, illness, addiction, hereditary disease, or any other undesirable consequence or general misfortune resulting from use of the "information" contained herein.

This is ridiculous. We already have too much noise pollution. I drive a Honda Goldwing because I don't want to hear my exhaust like with a Harley. I have TINNITUS and that kind of noise makes it really ring. I am looking forward to driving a nice quiet electric scooter. And yes, we have to pay attention to our driving. Like looking for kids that run into the street or animals. So same with pedestrians. We have to be looking for them even when they don't have the right of way. It does not make your day or theirs if you hit one. Remember this one?
Here lies Jonathan Day, who died defending his right of way.
He was right as the day is long, but he is just as dead as if he was wrong.

Robert Dudley
E-Scoot Tech

Pure lunacy. I have ridden a noiseless vehicle most days of my adult life. It's called a bicycle. Bicycle versus pedestrian collisions are not that much prettier than car versus pedestrian collisions. Hybrids and other quiet cars don't change the equation a lot.

"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"

Okay, it's early in the morning for me so excuse the delusions.

Music sounds for a noiseless EV:

That shark scene sound from Jaws.
The shower scene sound from Psycho.
Anyone remember the 'music' on the 80's game, Asteroids?
Any background music from 'Boyz in the Hood' - people will think it's another driveby.

Or something like this couldn't be ignored:

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