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from the fake-engine-noises-FTW-Vrrrm-Vrrrm! dept.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the rule was needed because battery-powered vehicles are very quiet.
It said the rule would particularly help blind pedestrians, or those with a visual impairment, detect electric cars and hybrids on the road.
The new safety rule could help prevent 2,400 injuries a year, said the NHTSA.
The rule demands that the cars make a noise when travelling either forwards or backwards at speeds of less than 30kmh (19mph). The regulation covers vehicles with four wheels that weigh less than 10,000 pounds (4.5 tonnes).
The safety specification requires car makers to use a two-tone signal similar to that currently emitted by heavy vehicles when they are reversing.
It would be more fun if drivers could customize what that sound is, such as "La Cucaracha" or the whine of a Shadow vessel.
Electric and hybrid cars are to include a noise generation device for travel at low speeds with no internal combustion engine: http://www.nhtsa.gov/About-NHTSA/Press-Releases/nhtsa_quiet_car_final_rule_11142016.
There goes my quiet electric future.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday November 16 2016, @07:27PM
In a quiet environment, this isn't needed. We lived in a quiet neighborhood with a couple of Prius owners, you'd hear them coming from far away due to the tire noise, even under 20mph. Prius also has some inverter whine when producing/recovering power - but that may be mostly out of some people's frequency range.
However, in a busy city environment, I can totally see the electrics sneaking up on someone when there's a crowd of IC engines around.
I'm sure it would be too much to ask for the standard to require x-dB above current background noise instead of a simple x-dB minimum that's adequate for safety in midtown Manhattan.
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(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday November 16 2016, @09:53PM
midtown Manhattan, you say? "Get the fuck outtathaway" would work.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday November 16 2016, @11:19PM
Might not pass sensitivity committee... but, I'd propose a continuous Bronx cheer.....
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