Vroom, vroom! Automakers turn up the volume

Hybrids and electric vehicles are so quiet that manufacturers are scrambling to add sound.

By JIM MOTAVALLI, New York Times

Last update: October 13, 2009 - 8:43 PM

For decades, automakers have been on a quest to make their cars quieter. The goal was an auto that purrs and glides almost silently in traffic.

They have finally succeeded. Plug-in hybrid and electric cars, it turns out, not only reduce air pollution, they cut noise pollution as well with their whisper-quiet motors. But that has created a different problem: They aren't noisy enough.

So safety experts, worried that hybrids pose a threat to pedestrians, children and others who can't hear a car approaching, want automakers to restore some digitally enhanced vroom. Indeed, just as cell phones have ringtones, "car-tones" may not be far behind -- an option for electric-vehicle owners to choose the sound their cars emit.

Working with Hollywood special-effects wizards, some hybrid auto companies have started tinkering in sound studios, rather than machine shops, to customize engine noises. The Fisker Karma, an $87,900 plug-in hybrid expected to go on sale next year, will emit a sound -- pumped out of speakers in the bumpers -- that company founder Henrik Fisker describes as "a cross between a starship and a Formula One car."

Nissan is also consulting with the film industry on sounds that could be emitted by its forthcoming Leaf battery-electric vehicle, while Toyota has been working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Federation of the Blind and the Society of Automotive Engineers on sounds for electric vehicles.

"One possibility is choosing your own noise," said Nathalie Bauters, a spokeswoman for BMW's Mini division, who added that such technology could be added to BMW's electric vehicles in the future. "Debate is going on about the different options."

The notion that battery-powered cars and plug-in hybrids might be too quiet has gained backing in Congress, among federal regulators and on the Internet. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced early this year, would require a federal safety standard to protect pedestrians from ultra-quiet cars.

Karen Aldana, a spokeswoman for NHTSA, which is also working on the issue, said, "We're looking at data on noise and [electric vehicle] safety, but manufacturers are starting to address it voluntarily."

Toyota spokesman, John Hanson said: "I don't know of any injuries related to this, but it is a concern. We are moving rapidly toward broader use of electrification in vehicles, and it's a fact that these cars are very quiet and could pose a risk to unsighted people."

Recent Cars stories

Mazdaspeed3 has vroom to spare - October 13, 2009

Mazdaspeed3 has vroom to spare - OK, so it's not a winner in the looks department. But with all this performance, who needs cute? More

New, innovative vehicles expand options for buyers of RVs - October 13, 2009

New, innovative vehicles expand options for buyers of RVs - More fuel-efficient RVs are definitely in demand these days. Manufacturers are coming up with interesting new smaller motorized and towable options for those looking for something a bit different to fit today's economic sensibilities. More