Comments on: Should the Volt have Speakers Inside and Outside to Simulate Engine Sound?

By: EVO

EVO — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:59:14 +0000

You mean like in this already in production electric vehicle?

http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/?p=6096

By: R U Kidding

R U Kidding — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:14:29 +0000

On a quiet night go outside and listen to cars drive down your street.

By far the most noise comes from the tires. Very little comes from the engine or other drive components.

I realize that at very slow speeds, the tire noise nearly disappears, too, but at any speed above 10 mph, it is the best indicator for anyone, especially the blind.

By: Would-be Volt Buyer

Would-be Volt Buyer — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:54:09 +0000

I notice the original posting was April 1st…

In any case, it seems to me that a low-power radar/sonar/infrared unit could warn both the Volt driver and pedestrians in its path.

Objects with profiles resembling pedestrians or wheelchairs would cause a low tone to be emitted from the car. As the car approached, the tone would raise in frequency and/or volume.

By: Carol Vega

Carol Vega — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:20:24 +0000

I thought of this idea 2 years ago! When driving in a parking lot, people can’t hear me and they just keep walking in the middle. I don’t want to honk, it’s impolite. A polite quite horn is perfect, like a “quack quack,” or “clomp clomp” galloping horse noise, classical music, but not “oink oink” that’s rude . . . sounds that can be downloaded, and changed, like cell phone rings are – but with a volume limit.

By: Richard H

Richard H — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:59:35 +0000

This is by far the stupidest thing I have heard in a long time. Why the heck would we make fake engine noises on electric vehicles? Are you really that stupid?

By: cormit

cormit — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:25:57 +0000

I think a customizeable noise ability could be alot of fun. It doesn’t have to be a traditional engine noise. Imagine cartoon noises like the Jetson’s car or the sound of Fred Flintsone’s feet. Personally I would like to be able to out ‘Hog’ the biker who always has to open throttle when you least expect it.

Alot of tuners pay big bucks to get the right exhaust note, it would be great if you could download one like an itunes file.

From a safety standpoint, it does make sense to have some noise outside, and also inside to give an audible clue to your speed. The absence of engine noise will be a suprise to many.

By: Tor

Tor — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:30:12 +0000

No. Please No!

Don’t waste money, time, or any other development resource on this idea.

GM: If someone in the AfterMarket group comes up to you and wants to develop some sort of add-on that will do “engine noise”, let them and give them any information they want on how to interface with the car to make it happen for them. Beyond that, don’t waste any time on it.

By: Brad Horton

Brad Horton — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 03:58:33 +0000

In response to the question asked, “heck no.” Also, I believe they should just make sure that the electric engine is not too quiet. They do, after all make a bit of noise, more like a soft whine. Especially regeneration. I know my Prius makes a really cool sound when taking off in EV, and slowing/stopping.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:17:48 +0000

No noise for me!

I want my EV to be quiet. Trying to pick a sound to represent the car will no doubt end up “cheesy” and decrease the appeal of the car.

If GM is worried about liability, they should incorporate an active system that senses IR and sounds a series or short alerts.

Either that or those who want sound can stick playing cards in the spokes.

By: noel park

noel park — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:41:12 +0000

#148 Jim I:

Good thinking. It’s a proven concept! Or how about a modern equivalent – a man on a Harley with no mufflers.