One of the many things electric vehicles (EVs) are known for is their ability to whizz past other road users without making any sound. Apart from tyre noise, there’s very little sound that emanates from the vehicle. But that could also be a bad thing, if you’re, say, a pedestrian trying to cross the road. In quiet neighbourhoods where there are no traffic lights or zebra crossings, a speeding EV could just catch you unawares in a blind corner while you’re taking an evening stroll. Enter the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS).
A recent regulation set by the European Union (EU) dictates that, starting July 1, all EVs, hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles be fitted with an acoustic warning system that goes off automatically when the vehicle is moving at speeds below 20 kilometres per hour. In a press release shared yesterday, Daimler stated that sound experts at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre (MTC) in Sindelfingen are currently working to meet the requirement in future Mercedes-Benz models, including the EQC 400 4MATIC fully-electric compact luxury SUV.
Sound experts at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre (MTC)
“Special microphones in the exterior sound testing facilities are used to develop an individually configured e-sound for each electric model. Simulations, measurements, evaluations and detailed improvements continue until the result is perfect. During the subsequent test drives, there is a particularly sensitive passenger on board – the artificial head. This registers the tiniest noises, and comes impressively close to human hearing,” writes Daimler in its press release.
In October last year, Jaguar announced that it was incorporating AVAS in its I-PACE electric crossover SUV to create credible engine sounds for nearby pedestrians. The EU legislation requires all EVs, hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles to emit at least 56 decibels of sound when moving about at low speeds. The I-PACE’s soundtrack was tested by members of Guide Dogs for the Blind, a British charity. In the future, we can expect to read more such news releases from mainstream and startup automakers as we inch towards a quieter ‘electrified’ automotive world.
Inline image courtesy: Daimler
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