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In another step toward making silent electric cars less so, Toyota Prius hybrids sold in Japan are to be offered with an optional system that broadcasts a "humming" noise outside the car whenever it operates solely on electricity.
The system is Toyota's response to the fears of blind people that hybrids and electric vehicles pose more of a threat to them because they're not as easy to hear.
Pending legislation in the U.S. will require all new hybrids and electric vehicles to fit noise-making equipment, despite a lack of solid evidence proving any risk. In fact, one analysis (and a more rigorous followup) showed a decrease in pedestrian accidents over the period since hybrids were introduced.
The $150 system offered on Japanese-market 2011 Toyota Prius hybrids emits a whirring noise, which the company says is similar to the "synthesized sound of an electric motor." The volume is no higher than that of a combustion-engined vehicle, and the system can be switched off by the driver.
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car takes a different tack to solve the same problem, providing a pedestrian alert system controlled by the driver, as the horn is. Volt vehicle line director Tony Posawatz described the sound as "a series of low horn audio signals or cues."
Toyota said it will offer the noise-making system at the start of September, and will add the feature to other vehicles that can run in electric-only mode--whether hybrid or fully electric--in years to come.
[Inside Line]
Am I the only one who thinks it should broadcast the sounds of a blown big block chevy?
Yes you are.... It's not the same. It's like watching top fuel cars on tv instead of cringing in pain while your vision blurs and your repay hurts from the vibrations you get when it's live in front of you. It would end up sounding like a monster truck toy.
my uncle builds the engines I mentioned, I know it would be different, it wouldn't shake your insides etc, but the sheer humor of a prius with an emulator sound like that would be classic.
Link to Uncle's site
His garage is disgusting, dodge dakota with hemi and dual 8-71 blowers etc, the man clearly is not right in the head
Isn't tire noise the only thing you really hear from any stock car from the outside anyway?
I can somewhat agree with this. Someone once told me a long time ago that if we REALLY wanted to make combustion engine cars silent, we could, but then we would have issues such as the one stated in the article. I was later walking through a parking lot and almost got hit by a Prius that was backing up and I never knew it was moving because I couldn't hear it. So for people hard of hearing, I can definitely see where this is a valid point. It's just so odd nowadays to not know that a car is moving.
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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -
But whats the point of making them have it if it can be turned off. The risk is still there.
Yea, they should leave it on permanently
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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -
then they can change the name to the TOYOTA VIBRATOR for your pleasure
