The Sound of the Chevy Volt
An issue often debated when it comes to electric cars is what sound should they make. There are indeed legislative efforts underway to ensure EVs make some noise, to protect the visually impaired. Some manufacturers such as Fisker have gone so far as to engineer artificial engine sounds played through external speakers.
We often wonder, exactly what sound will the Chevy Volt make.
I previously had the chance to ask this question of Frank Weber, who is GM’s E-Flex vehicle line executive.
He went on to describe what the sound will actually be:
“The sound of the car should be highly technical, but should have no relation at all to a combustion engine, it should be highly pleasing, almost imperceptible as to what’s (actually) happening. I always compare the sound you would expect from the Volt is like when on spaceship enterprise you hear the doors close, or use the transporter. This is the type of character you would expect from power electronics, you cannot hear it, but the car would have its own sounds rather than imitating (a combustion engine)”
I asked whether GM was planning any artificial sounds on the Volt, with respect to the visually impaired.
Frank alerted to that and said “This is a different thing, we have something that’s called a pedestrian friendly alert. You would activate it as a driver. It is more pleasing (than a horn) and you would activate it much like you would your high-beam. This is how you would use it below 25 miles per hour.”
“The other thing that you have to do since the car is quiet, when you start it, today the experience today of turning on a conventional car is an important experience when it provides confidence power feedback, many things are happening psychologically in this moment. What we definitely will do is considering some of the competitor hybrids today are weak in that regard, is we will provide very clear and intuitive feedback from the car telling you what state it is in.”
“I can’t tell you more about it but it is in the process of being worked out.”
Popularity: 3%
Related posts:
- Should the Volt have Speakers Inside and Outside to Simulate Engine Sound?
- What Will the Chevy Volt Sound Like?
- Chevy Volt Battery Temperature Control
- GM Q&A: Volt Vehicle Line Executive Frank Weber on the Current Chevy Volt Mules
- Possible Future Chevy Volt Options - Version One Will Have 40 Miles EV Range
(35 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5) 
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October 28th, 2008 at 6:20 am
It can make a farting noise for all I care as long as it does as it is supposed to when it comes to performance and electrical range
October 28th, 2008 at 6:29 am
As far as noise goes, the cities who are worried about this issue should make the street slightly rough and then the tire noise will be sufficient to alert the blind. I was just in Amsterdam and the bikes are flying around everywhere (silently). The brick bike paths solve this issue because you can here the tire noise on these bike roads and that helps you avoid stepping out in front of a bike. This would be one solution for the cities.
This will be unnecesary outside of congested areas where the blind should not be crossing highways without some other type of support.
I like the idea of feedback from the car when it starts. I assume there will be some type of animated graphics on the screens letting you know the Volt if coming up properly and is ready to roll.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Thing is, noise or not, someone who is visually impaired may or may not walk out in front of your car. Audio cues won’t help when someone decides to do what they want to do. Putting out artificial sounds is just annoying and stupid.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:33 am
It just goes to show you that the engineers on this project are really thinking about all aspects of this vehicle. It also tells me that the “hard” technical issues must be going pretty well, if they are spending time working on the soft psychological items, like startup feedback to the user and pedestrian friendly alerts……
The Volt will be a winner.
Please get it to the market!!!!
Go GM! Go GM Volt Team!!!
NPNS
October 28th, 2008 at 6:51 am
I don’t think any additional noise is necessary — as it is with current cars, when they pass by my suburban home at 20mph I hear the rush of the car displacing the air and the hum of the tires on the asphalt more than I hear the sound of the car anyway. These noises will be no different on the Volt.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Frank Weber’s comments were impressive.
He and the team have thought deeply. I’m looking forward to seeing (hearing) what they have decided to do.
I think the approach of external sound as directed by the driver is a good one. The start-up feedback is a new thought to me but will be a nice touch.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:04 am
If the volt turns on in a forest and no legislators are around to hear it does it matter what sound it makes?
Ok grasshopper back to work!
October 28th, 2008 at 7:08 am
“… turning on a conventional car is an important experience when it provides confidence power feedback, many things are happening psychologically in this moment. What we definitely will do is considering some of the competitor hybrids today are weak in that regard, is we will provide very clear and intuitive feedback from the car telling you what state it is in.”
Never let it be said that GM failed in their ability to know their car-enthusiast customers. Their car-value customers consistently get taken by other brands, but the power-feedback enthusiast…will always have a home with GM.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Could the car just send out short range RF signal to a receiver for blind people? That way only they would have to hear the “silent” cars. Just seems like a lot more noise polution, for a few percentage of the population. I was actually looking forward to all electric cars being quieter.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:12 am
As long as it don’t make the sound of my blender…
NPNS
October 28th, 2008 at 7:21 am
I bet in the next 10 years, car companies will have technology that can get rid of almost all of the noise coming from internal combustion engines. The only noise you’d hear coming from cars is the noise that the engineers design into it for safety purposes … for blind people, dogs, little kids, etc.
This noise canceling technology for airplane engines is going to be awesome. People that live near airports will love it.
http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/engine-noise.htm
I’m sure they could use this same acoustic technology for cars, motorcycles, lawn mowers, weed eaters and everything else eventually. The world has too much NOISE POLLUTION. If it’s not too expensive to do so, I hope governments start to make laws about engine noise coming from internal combustion engines in the future. I think it would be great to sit in your backyard on a weekend and actually have peace and quiet without lawnmowers, weed eaters, airplanes, and everything else making all that noise.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:25 am
As long as it doesn’t make that stupid dump truck backing up noise like my prius does when it’s in reverse.
Frank Weber has to have been an Engineer. Trying to equate the noises to startrek! classic engineer. Maybe the volt could beam the blind out of the way as they approach the car.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Off-topic: From ASEE First Bell
“The AP (10/28, Hoffman) reports that Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) “thinks alternative energy is so important to Michigan’s future that she issued an executive order Monday changing the former Department of Labor and Economic Growth into the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG)”
“The Detroit Free Press (10/27, Christoff) noted that … Granholm “said the realigned DELEG will help facilitate development of advance technologies used to develop electric cars and metal fabrication.”
=========================================
Labor, electric cars, and metal fabrication — An unusual combination for a state agency but shows their importance to Michigan.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Interesting article thanks. I’m not crazy about artificial sounds either inside or outside, but I like the fact it is something that is actuated by the driver. At least I will be given the option to go ‘cruising’ for blind people wandering about in the middle of my city’s roads.
“I can’t tell you more about it but it is in the process of being worked out.”—”and if you find out, I will have to kill you!…(whisper)–help get me out of here, I’m trapped in here, they are watching me…”
—————————————————
Aside: Frank Weber reminds me of “Exeter. Doug Exeter.”
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews24/a%20this%20island%20earth%20Faith%20Domergue/new%20this%20island%20earth%20morrow%20THIS_ISLAND_EARTH-10.jpg
October 28th, 2008 at 7:28 am
#11 GMVoltFan on noise
======================
Most of what you hear, usually, is tire noise not ICE.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I think this one is easy. A quiet car is not the problem. The problem is for someone being able to know it’s present. How about an electric field sensor worn somewhere near the ear of blind persons? Or a simple hearing booster?This will cover issues with hybrids and full EV’s. Charge a $1 “hearing impared” add-on to the sticker price.
I honestly doubt that even this is needed. The electric car I drive makes a humming “weeeerrrrr” noise on accel and a “ruurrrrrhhh” noise on decel. Our friend 1701a will appreciate the Enterprise warp drive sound on accel.
=D~
October 28th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I knew I had heard something about this before, but I thought it was just ’suspended,’ not canceled. I know this is the first time I personally have actually heard it.
“General Motors executives last May canceled the CXX program”
—which is the Tahoe and Suburban
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=134406
A story in Sunday’s New York Times quotes GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz, head of product development, as saying: “It would have been very difficult in today’s environment to spend a couple of billion dollars to do a replacement.”
The next-generation Tahoe and Suburban, along with successors to the Yukon and Escalade, were slated to begin arriving in 2011 as 2012 models, supplier sources told Inside Line. GM originally had earmarked $2 billion to completely redesign the big SUVs and retool its assembly plants to build them.
It is now unclear whether the current models, which went on sale in early 2006, will continue in production until 2011 or will be phased out earlier. GM has announced plans to close one SUV plant in Janesville, Wisconsin, consolidating SUV production in Arlington, Texas
October 28th, 2008 at 7:34 am
For having seen & heard Priuses move on electric only, they are not silent at all. A blind person can very clearly hear them coming. I think this issue is a marketing gimmick.
Now for something completely different: three electric autos make it to the Forbes auto “most coveted” list (no, not the Volt, that’s what GM gets for choosing a “normal-looking” design).
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081027/AUTOS_forbes_coveted_cars_081028/20081028?s_name=Autos
October 28th, 2008 at 7:40 am
You can barely hear half of the cars on the road today. This is more pointless legislation if they try to force cars to make noise.
It sounds like they could let people choose the sound their car makes at start up or turn off like choosing a ringtone for your phone. I would be pissed though if they figure out a way to charge people to change it.
Flux capacitor on.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:41 am
From the article: “… we have something that’s called a pedestrian friendly alert. You would activate it as a driver. It is more pleasing (than a horn) and you would activate it much like you would your high-beam. This is how you would use it below 25 miles per hour.”
————————————————————————————-
This is excellent news. Just how I imagined it. I’m glad GM got this right.
CNN did a news article on this issue a few months ago. A kid on a bike was hit by a Prius running at low speed with the gas engine off. The kid said he couldn’t hear the Prius. The CNN article did mention the visually impaired, but the main emphasis was kids on bikes. Many pedestrians are used to gas engine noise signaling an approaching car. This includes runners, people walking dogs, bicyclists, kids walking to/from school, etc.. I think the visually impaired is actually a minor part of this issue.
Kids on bikes often dart out from behind parked cars. Other pedestrians may appear suddenly as well. So a momentary switch (like a horn) won’t solve this. The driver often can’t react in time. A switch that stays on until you turn it off (like a high beam) and produces a constant noise is much more effective.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:46 am
The hell with Star Trek. How about for Gen 2, the car talks to you like the HAL computer in “2001″:
“Pardon me, Dave, but the fuel in your tank is getting stale, I suggest you make an extended trip to run the engine….”
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
I like the idea of the driver activating the pedestrian-warning alert instead of it making a constant sound as some have proposed elsewhere.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Sonofa….liberal creeps are going to force one of my favorite things about the electric car to be ruined……..I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A QUIET CAR !!!
Its not even out yet and the libdems are already trying to ruin it!
I’ll disconnect my noise maker. Sorry. I’ll honk if Stevie Wonder is out walking.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:52 am
My ‘06 Prius would beep when put into reverse, but only inside the car. I learned how to disable this silly feature, and installed an aftermarket beeper that can be heard outside the vehicle when it’s in reverse.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I hope my car is silent. The blind will have to trust that the other 99.8 percent of the population is paying attention.
Unrelated but I filled my gas tank for $1.99 per gallon this morning in Des Moines, IA. Hope this does not shift the consumers desire for Highly Fuel efficient vehicles like the volt…
October 28th, 2008 at 7:55 am
The other day I almost got run over by a Prius in a parking lot for that reason. How come Toyota has done nothing to the Prius thus far? Oh, I forgot, Toyota is immune to any negativity.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I just want quiet. Silence is golden.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:01 am
In our area, the walk/dont walk sign gives off a beeping noise if it is unsafe to walk across. They do this for the visually impared. All big citys have them, and if there is someone with a visual problem in a town without them, all they have to do is submit a request to their city council for them to put them up. It is something the town has to do to. I really dont think that the car needs to make extra noise.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:12 am
My volt will be surrounded by a rainbow force field of love that will gently nudge any bystander harmlessly into marshmallow ditches.
Barring that, I will settle for a blaring air raid siren that is dependent on proximity sensors… something audibly along the lines of the ectomobile from ghostbusters…
Now on to less important things like availability of both the car itself and financing….
October 28th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I’m not worried about the blind. It’s children that I’m concerned with. Even good kids run into the street sometimes. I’ve also grown accustomed to using my ears to alert me of oncoming cars. Yeah I know I’m supposed to look both ways, but don’t tell me you never just trust your ears.
I think this is a fairly important issue. A Nightline special about the latest CHILDKILLING CARS FROM GM, and public perception is going to hurt acceptance, which is the last thing I would want.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I was really, really hoping that
“This is a different thing, we have something that’s called a pedestrian friendly alert. You would activate it as a driver.”
Would lead into “IT’S CALLED A HORN.”
This entire debate is moronic. Pay attention. If you walk on the proper side of the road, you don’t have to worry about not hearing a car, because you see it. So I don’t buy the kids walking to school/runners/etc argument. Bikes that are going to be used on roads where this could be a problem should be outfitted with mirrors, used to help with just this sort of issue. As for the visually impaired, there are already audible cues about when to cross at crosswalks around here (Walk gets a long beep, don’t walk is silent), and don’t cross anywhere else unless you have a buddy with working eyes. I don’t think blind people are meandering around on back roads alone at night, so there shouldn’t have to be a design for that what-if.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:21 am
You guys, we are a pretty fascinating community. Let’s get present to the fact that “Blind people will just have to get over it” is pretty darn closed minded. They trust their lives with their ears. Just like “Joe” I walked out in front of a Prius too, it was SILENT. What stopped me was the movement out of the corner of my eye. Let’s face it, if I was blind and he was searching for a number on his phone, I would have been road kill. There has to be a subtle pleasing noise a vehicle can make to alert people when the vehicle is traveling at lower speeds. (you won’t hear it inside the vehicle anyway).
October 28th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Oh god, please don’t waste a penny more on researching this hippie bullcrap.
Make the car. Sell the car. I will buy it.
It does not need a ridiculous fake engine noise.
It does not need something “highly technical, but should have no relation at all to a combustion engine, it should be highly pleasing, almost imperceptible as to what’s (actually) happening”
In fact, fire that guy. I’m sure he’s paid too much money to sit in a dark room smoking pot all day when he should be helping design this car.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I cant see it OR hear it yet…
Its still just too far away…
October 28th, 2008 at 8:29 am
How about the sound of George Jetsons little UFO? That would work for me 100%. Chances are, if people demand that GM tries to build every eventuality into this vehicle for the sake of avoiding bad press, they will go out of business before we ever see one roll off the assembly line. We are talking statistics here people. Some sort of warning device can be added after the initial roll out… I don’t see any huge “Sight
impaired against the Prius” movement out there.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:37 am
#30 dbk
I like your argument. As long as children walk on the correct side of the road, and pay attention, it shouldn’t be a problem. Lets place the burden on them to accomodate electric cars.
My kids are great, and we teach them safety, but they’re still kids. They don’t always pay attention or consider what they’re doing, that’s why their considered minors and not adults. Kids already have a problem running out into streets. If they can’t hear cars coming, I suspect it’ll get worse.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:40 am
#22 Freemon Sandlewould Says: “Sonofa….liberal creeps are going to force one of my favorite things about the electric car to be ruined……..I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A QUIET CAR !!!
Its not even out yet and the libdems are already trying to ruin it!
I’ll disconnect my noise maker. Sorry. I’ll honk if Stevie Wonder is out walking.”
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You’re missing the main points:
1) The noise maker is activated by the driver. You don’t have to disconnect it. Just don’t switch it on.
2) It’s not blind people, but kids on bikes that will be the big problem.
3) Forget about the liberals. Ambulance chasing lawyers are the problem. If GM didn’t have a noise maker, they would go after GM. If you don’t switch the noise maker on, they will go after you…
October 28th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Anyone else remember Mattel’s “V-rroom!” Motor Kit for bikes and trikes back in the 60’s ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC0dK42wOOA
Maybe that’s what the Volt needs.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:00 am
There used to be a toy out when I was a kid (about a million years ago). that made a whistling noise when air moved through it. The harder you ran with it … the louder the noise as it cycled up. It had a range of about 50 feet for noise. It cost about 10 cents.. (maybe a buck at the novelty store now).. Attach it under the car somewhere close to the front (where is that duct tape?). Done… The noise will be outside and it will still be silent inside the car..
Just kidding… I am sure the car will make enough road noise to be heard in most circumstances..
October 28th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Put a baseball card in between the spokes. Problem solved.
(just make sure it isn’t a Joe DiMaggio rookie card)
October 28th, 2008 at 9:18 am
#39, I shudder to think of what cards I ruined back in the early 60’s…….
October 28th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Other press on this subject:
http://tinyurl.com/5ax554
http://tinyurl.com/6qynb3
http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=18828
http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/columnists/robert_price/story/532494.html
I think the subject is overblown… I’ve only heard of one or two accidents involving a Prius driving with the ICE off and a seeing impaired pedestrian. I say it’s a non issue…. however GM’s idea of a second “horn” so the driver can alert pedestrians (seeing impaired or not) is not a bad middle ground.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:25 am
It’ll be nice when this is the most pressing issue at hand but first LJGTVWOTR!
NPNS
October 28th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I put Deer whistles on my vehicles and out of curiosity i watched the deer along the side of the road. I never saw even one that seemed to notice the sound. They do notice my diesel truck.
I have been hit by a deer and by a child in the neighbor hood. Fortunately I was going fast enough the deer hit me on the side and slow enough that I was stopped before the child hit me. Both of them got up and ran away. I don’t think anything short of ships horn would have prevented either of these, maybe not even then.
I do like the idea of a distinctive alarm horn that can be actuated by a lever to warn bicyclist and others that might be frightened by a regular horn blast. Do we have a new alarm sound? Maybe we should start a contest to define THE electric car sound.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Noise as a signal to the blind could be provided as needed.
This would require the blind person or any one who wants audible warning to carry a device that would transmit a signal to cars in their vicinity. The cars that received the signal would begin to make a sound so the blind person could hear the car and approximate its location. The car would stop making the sound when out of range (hundreds of feet). This would alert the driver and the blind when necessary and would keep the quiet as much of the time as possible.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Who cares about the horn. It is all about MPG, MPK, range, range, range, batteries, efficiency.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:44 am
i immidiatly thought of the de’loreon from “back to the future”. while i’m sure the sounds will be more aesthetically pleasing than that, i’m very excited about the car making “futuristic” sounds, both inside and out. it’s just like the prototypes original design, in that it just looked so modern and awesome. heck, thats half the reason i wanna drive the thing, is it just looks so cool! when you tell someone about your electric car they right away think it’s some dumb looking hunk of crap, i cant wait to show mine off to people and show them we can be green AND stylish
October 28th, 2008 at 9:46 am
What’s really cool is while saving on our pocket book for the cost of the energy the car uses, we’ll also be helping to reduce noise polution. Can anyone imagine driving in New York or LA and the only auto sound would be an occasional horn!
October 28th, 2008 at 9:47 am
While I think it’s cool that they are considering the whole experience, my first thought was, give me the powertrain and design I want, and don’t sweat the details.
The more I thought about it, however, the more I decided I want the car to tell me exactly what condition it is in and what it is doing. Information! I can’t get too much information. Let the car tell me as much as it can, so I can make an informed decision of what I want it to do. That’s what humans are supposed to do.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:50 am
The Volt should sound like George Jetson’s space car…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I think it should make a farting sound. That would be sure to alert pedestrians! LOL.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:51 am
It will make the sound of one hand clapping, grasshoppers.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:52 am
@26 Rashiid,
>> I just want quiet. Silence is golden.
Amen, brother. I sure wish the dump trucks that snort their way past my house at 6am were electric!!
@28 Jeremy,
>> My volt will be surrounded by a rainbow force field of love that
>> will gently nudge any bystander harmlessly into marshmallow ditches.
LOL! Thanks for the belly laugh.
Honestly everybody, modern vehicles are so quiet at low speeds, often all you hear is the tire noise. This subject is sooo overblown (which makes it simply PERFECT for do-gooder politicians to screw things up over!).
@49, Mikatollah,
>> The Volt should sound like George Jetson’s space car…
I predict you will make a fortune in the burgeoning “vehicle -in-motion exterior audio” aftermarket business. Just watch out for those Hanna-Barbera lawyers, they’re a real bunch of sharks!!
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:fWs0Qew-BJkJ::blogs.seapine.com/grant/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/jabberjaw.png
October 28th, 2008 at 10:00 am
They just need to put a 10-speaker, 500W sound system in the Volt. The we all can turn up our bass like the kids do now. The blind and all your neighbors sitting in their homes will hear you, but you will lose 10 miles of range due to the power draw.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:06 am
My oh my, does that great iPOD thing on the dash not have 1001 sounds built in. Of course I am sure you could download for a small fee a rendering of Jay Leno’s 1909 Baker electric from your On-Star. Just like a cell phone, choose your ring tone.
Red HHR (with iPOD port plugged)
October 28th, 2008 at 10:07 am
The more junk they put on this car, the more expensive it is going to get–as well as the more things that can break once in consumer’s hands. If GM is seriously worried about striking pedestrians, CUT IT OUT. Just look at stats of current strikes and it will alleviate your concerns. Ugh..common sense here folks is going out the window.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I like the idea of customizable sounds. For example:
- Clickity-clack of a baseball card in the spokes.
- The tie-fighter sound from Star Wars (which I never understood since the tie-fighter fly in space, which is a vacuum, anyways…)
- The music from Spy Hunter.
- Train sound (since it is a serial hybrid).
- A recording of you going “vroom! jurrrr……”
Oh the possibilities!
/ Hehe. Not really. I want a completely silent car as well. I will deactivate or cover up any noise making feature if I do get a Volt. Such a frivolous subject…
October 28th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I can understand the “need” for an artificial sound generator, but I hope they make it where it can be turned off easily. And once turned off, stay off unless turned back on. Don’t default it to being on every time you start up the Volt. Where I live I don’t do very much “street” driving. I am probably in the majority in this type of driving. Most of us do suburban or highway driving and little “downtown” driving. But, leave it to the politicians and it will be required to be on every car and be active at all speeds all the time and make terrible noises. They will certainly screw it up if it can be screwed up and we know it can.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:17 am
The start up sequence should be pretty obvious to anyone looking at either of the displays on the Volt. You would almost have to be blind, deaf or have your eyes closed and your ears stopped up. You will see the screens come alive and see some type of sequence in the information being displayed. I guess they will add voice response saying: “The Volt is ready for driving.” Or some such phrase. I guess we will find out what they are going to do some day. Its pretty obvious when the Prius is “all systems go” status. Maybe GM can improve on that. I am sure they will.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:23 am
The U.S. Government is going to give GM an additional $10 billion so it can layoff thousands of factory workers, close thousands of dealerships, bankrupt who knows how many parts suppliers and give its executives large Christmas bonuses. Thanks. This government has gone INSANE with these corporate bailouts. This is pure socialism, not capitalism, we all might as well move to France.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Closeup photos of the Volt’s steering wheel show a button/switch on the left clustered with the cruise controls simply labeled “GAP”. I hope this means GM is providing a forward-looking sensor that will automatically apply the Volt’s brakes when necessary to avoid a collision with the car ahead, as a few other high-end car makers are already doing.
Perhaps this same sensor could be used at lower speeds to sense the presence of persons, cyclists, pets or other objects in the car’s path to trigger a highly-audible & distinctive (yet pleasant) “alert” sound. This automatic “alert” feature could be activated by the driver below 25mph …..and could be overriden by the driver to sound the alert manually and/or deactivate the alert feature.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:29 am
When driving your Volt, turn the MP3 player’s volume to “11″
October 28th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Black Gold is at $63.05, time to fill up that high mileage vehicle.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:33 am
#5 Bob, #15 RB, #18 Manny, and #26 Rashiid Amul, among many others, all have it right. This is a non-issue, IMHO. Well done bloggers! Next case.
#42 Gsned57:
Amen!!
LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS!
October 28th, 2008 at 10:39 am
This would be the first thing I’d disable on my Volt.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Just install a nice set of speakers in the Volt and all the driver has to do is crank up the bass. I am sure many of you have heard that car coming down the road and vibrating anything within 100 yards. I like deep bass, but man some of the type of music today’s youth is listening to. I’ll just say that someone forgot to put the “c” into rap music.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I want it SILENT! I want to stalk ex lovers!
October 28th, 2008 at 10:42 am
“You can tell it is a hybrid by the intense aura of smugness it generates.”
>>>Hmmmmmmaaahhhhhhh. Happy to be of service!<<<
Within his thorax, Marvin’s gears ground impotently.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:51 am
The EV is inherently a killing machine. There have been numerous accidents with permanent injuries and even death at the hands of the raging EV while it is in reverse motion and making no sounds what so ever. The NTSA must mandate that all EV on this nation’s roads be equipped with external sound system that makes their presence known at all times. If the auto makers do not equip them with this feature you can rest assured that we will present legislation that will force them to comply. We will not allow silent vehicle on public roads, this is a safety issue. I know all Americans will stand behind this requirement.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:52 am
It seems that GM is onto something here. Pleasant sounds add to the ownership experience. The sound of a door thunk without the tinny noise (like a Honda Element) adds to the feeling of quality of a vehicle. It’s also like having a nice TV, and having a nice sourround sound system to go with it. It just makes a good thing better.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I expect the a blind persons other senses are greatly heightened, so they could probably here the wheels turning on the pavement. Giving the driver the ability to activate the sound is not pragmatic. If they forget, who is at fault. I think you either make the car emit a sound or no sound at all.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:01 am
It is absolutely stupid to have the car make any other sounds that it does during normal operation. There is so much noise pollution now and one of the benefits of the electric car would be to reduce or eliminate it. There are not that many visually impaired people that would be affected and I would suggest some one come up with a motion detector for the blind that would sense the presence of anything in close proximity and give the visually impaired person a heads up.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
It is all about MPG, MPK, range, range, range, batteries, efficiency.
______________________________________
The lack of concern for production cost is very interesting.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:09 am
In order for the visually impaired to identify an EV the artificial sound needs to be the same for ALL electric vehicles. This would require a government mandate. I think many government vehicles already emit a high pitched beeping sound when in reverse. Since the EV is silent in both forward and reverse, it makes sense to require a fulltime noise generator that cannot be disabled by the owner, perhaps wiring it directy into the PCM and continuously monitored by external sensors. You can be sure that some boy genius will try to defeat this device. If the built-in monitor does not recognize the correct tone and volume during startup it will disable the EV as it has no business on the public road system should the external sound system become defective.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Great, another 3000 meetings and 10 billion dollars wasted by the idiots in charge to figure out what an electric car should sound like.
Imagine if these morons were in charge way back when. We would still be saying
God save the queen,
Every afternoon with our fricking tea.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:20 am
As the Volt and other EV start to populate our nation’s roads I fear for our children. You will eventually begin hearing on the news about the endless slaughter of our youth by these silent death machines. I for one will fight for our children and push our government to require that the Volt have a loud external sound system so that the children playing in the middle of the road know that a dangerous vehicle is approaching. Safety First !!
October 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
______________________________________________________
“NO GAS”
How about an audio loop of “NO GAS” whereby the faster the car goes the faster the audio loop repeats “NO GAS”…yes I’m just joking.
Adding any type of artificial noise to the VOLT will be a delicate matter because the low noise of the EV driving experience adds to the EV driving experience.
On a side note, I last month had an opportunity to drive the Tesla Roadster and was struck by how quite the car is. All you hear is the slight whirl of the electric motor when accelerating and a slight whirl (regen braking) when braking. Although I’m accustomed to driving a quite in-neighborhood EV (modified golf-cart), I was still surprised by just how quite the Tesla drove. My Tesla drive, in summary, confirmed to me the rumor that you can not drive that car without a smile on your face; it was a very cool and fun experience. One of the things that sometimes get lost in the VOLT story is the cool factor that comes with driving an EV (very quite, very high torque, no gas, for some reason feels like playing hooky from school when you were a kid).
_____________________________________________________
October 28th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I believe we are all missing the point here. We as responsible citizens need to be responsible drivers. It is up to us make sure we drive save and when you see that child, bike or white & red cane take extra precautionary steps to insure their safety. I don’t know how many times I have darn near been hit just crossing the street with the light in my favor. There is no such thing as ” The pedestrian has the right of way.” We as drivers of that vehicle need to insure the safety of everyone, including our selves.
God Bless America.
Tom
October 28th, 2008 at 11:27 am
This comment has nothing to do with the sound issue, but I have tried communicating with GM thru their Contact site without success. My concern is this. A friend bought a Toyota Prius and sustained rock damage which put out his right front headlight. In order to replace it the Toyota dealer had to remove the front bumper, then change the light unit. Total cost including labor was $600. That seems outrageous. Word to the Wise: Volt could gain points by designing its headlights to be replaced for a nominal cost if damaged.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I am for a low frequency thumping sound with a very distinct pattern. Local law enforcement can be used to quickly check if owner has tampered with vehicle. Issuing a $1000 fine for first offense would be sufficient. We absolutely cannot have silent vehicle roaming our neighborhoods. There is just too much risk to the general public.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:34 am
From 1999 - 2008, 104 kids were killed by airbags. That’s about 10 per year, which is remarkably small. Now many producers are adding sensors to detect car seats or lightweight people, switches to turn airbags off, etc.
I predict that with such a response over 10 deaths per year, noise makers are going to be installed on EV’s, assuming that baseline noise levels are not high enough. They will be silent to the people in the car. Noise pollution will take a back seat to people’s lives, as it should.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:39 am
#55 Dave B
“Ugh..common sense here folks is going out the window.”
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It always does when the government and do gooders get involved. I do think some sort of noise device will be enacted in legislation. Probably will be for all vehicles to insure a minimum sound level at slow speeds. The Lotus idea is not bad, but I would like to choose the type of engine sound it makes. About all you hear from new cars is tire noise these days. The engines are really quite. Too bad the same government and do gooders can’t agree on limiting loud sounds coming from vehicles including sound systems.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:42 am
#73 Dolby
I don’t think gov’t needs to be involved here. Manufacturers are responsible for making safe products, irregardless of regulations. If they make an unsafe product, lawsuits come and public perception drops. Also, if someone disables a safety system, they’d better have good liability insurance. I don’t think fines would be needed. Try getting insurance after a stunt like that.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:45 am
#65 I. B. Woofer
“I’ll just say that someone forgot to put the “c” into rap music.”
————————–
You hit it out of he ball park with that comment. I am still rolling on the floor. Great comment on the state of today’s music.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Says you:
“There are indeed legislative efforts underway to ensure EVs make some noise, to protect the visually impaired.”
Says me:
These legislative efforts have nothing to do with the visually impaired. The oil industries are behind this, trying to dampen efforts which would make electric cars readily available and inexpensive. This is a fact. Most of the noise from an automobile is not from its engine, but from interaction between the road surface and rubber tires. Research it if you don’t believe me.
Blind or not, pedestrians will walk in front of vehicles from time to time. It’s the driver’s responsibility to look out for these people, and use the horn and brakes when appropriate.
I love the idea of a near-silent vehicle. Noise pollution is an awful thing.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:46 am
#80 N Riley
Who are you referring to by “do gooders.” I have 3 kids and I want to make sure the noise is sufficient for their safety. Would I be considered a “do gooder?”
October 28th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I can see where the silence of the Volt could be beneficial. For bank robbers and burglers and such who roam at night like the wind. But for the average joe no need, just put an external sound safety device. If the Volt owner doesn’t like the mandated sound they can just roll up their window. Some have said they would disable this sound device. Foolish move, you people are the type that disable the air bag, abs braking etc. for your own personal enjoyment. This issue is about the safety of the general public who is at risk. I could only see the sound system being disabled by onboard computer only when the EV is on a known highway using GPS signals.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:50 am
These ’sound’ posts are always very animated with lots of people on both sides.
I myself want a quiet environment, and also a quiet car….but I also care about children and blind people, so there is a conflict.
Every year children and blind people are already dying on our streets, I cannot imagine the apocalyptical ramifications of the electric automobile. How did they ever get the first cars on the road at all?
Therefore, to prevent this new harbinger of death and to correct a massive problem already plaguing our fringe populus, all children and blind people should be banned from our roadways completely. Perhaps they should remain indoors altogether, this would also prevent other horrors from stalking our weak, such as lightning strikes, springtime allergies and lawn dart accidents
I propose they are confined to their residences until such time as they can legally vote…or they regain their eyesight.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Perhaps the Volt can emit a pungent odor?
http://garfwod.250free.com/2001_feel_it.wav
=D~
October 28th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I’m amazed at how non-chalant and/or outright dismissive so many posting on this subject are, so I feel obliged to repeat what I said in post #60, with emphasis. First of all, the Volt will be designed with a forward-looking sensor to help prevent rear-ending the car ahead. (Evidence: closeup photos of the Volt’s steering wheel show a button/switch on the left clustered with the cruise controls simply labeled “GAP”). I’m sure this means GM is providing a forward-looking sensor that will automatically apply the Volt’s brakes when necessary to avoid a collision with the car ahead, as a few other high-end car makers are already doing. The sensor is the hard part and that’s already being done ….adding an alert sounder and the switching to activate/deactivate it should be easy!
IMO, this same sensor could be used at lower speeds to sense the presence of persons, cyclists, pets or other objects in the car’s path to trigger a highly-audible & distinctive (yet pleasant) “alert” sound. This automatic “alert” feature could be activated by the driver below 25mph …..and could be overriden by the driver to sound the alert manually and/or deactivate the alert feature. As Frank Weber is quoted by Lyle above, “….we have something that’s called a pedestrian friendly alert. You would activate it as a driver. It is more pleasing (than a horn) and you would activate it much like you would your high-beam. This is how you would use it below 25 miles per hour.” In other words, the Volt will most likely include an alert feature and I heartily encourage GM to continue with its design!
October 28th, 2008 at 11:55 am
#1, #50:
I’m fine with the farting noise as long as it doesn’t come with odor attached…
October 28th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
with the issue of the horn i hope GM will put a Stong sounding horn instead of a weak “non-respectable” horn…. A cars horn says a lot about a car i think
October 28th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
What logic is there to requiring vehicles make artificial noise? Are there a disproportionate number of visually impaired people run over each year by bicycles? electric mopeds? So why make special exception for cars then?
October 28th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I have a feeling this feature will be hacked and people will be able to customize their car sound. Kind of like a custom ring tone, everyones car will have some different weird noise.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
While I can respect the problem of visually impaired people not being able to hear the car, the sound should not be ‘cheesy’. The real problem is pedestrians get hit by normal cars all the time. The real solution is to have a collision detection system that could trigger the horn on the car via computer which would be faster than the driver could respond.
How about city buses? Have you ever noticed that the sound is misleading because the engine is in the rear of the bus, so the front of the bus is very quiet as it approaches you.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
The external sound generator on the Volt and other EV should be variable with speed of vehicle. I would want to know when the maniac behind the wheel guns the throttle and tries to run me over. As volume increases it tends to get people’s attention. So it looks more and more like a simulated ICE sounds will do the trick. I personally would want mine to sound like a V12 Ferrari.
I do think some kind of external sound device will be mandated by the fed eventually, similar to the 3rd tail light and other safety devices have been added in the past, so GM should already be planning for it.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Why is there so much animosity toward quite cars? I think the vision impaired safety argument is a weak one. Normally sighted people walk out in front of traffic and get hit too. What’s the explanation for that?
Is this really a safety issue or just an excuse to shift the blame away from people not paying attention to their surroundings? Kids run out in front of conventional “noisy” cars all the time. I suppose you could mandate flashing lights and a siren or blowing the the horn every 3 seconds in a residential area. That would certainly make people aware of the car’s presence. Good luck explaining to the angry mob that all that noise is for the safety of their children and blind people.
Why add noise pollution? The world is noisy enough already.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
He who drives a Volt drives in silence.
EV = Silent Danger
October 28th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
May I suggest the Flight of the Valkyrie as a constant audio loop? And of course the horn should emit a Homer Simpson “D’oh!”
October 28th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
The Volt should use artificial sound for driver feedback. Driver feedback is an important concept within the auto racing environment. Having appropriate feedback for every vehicle action is need to maximize the safety potential of your driving habits. Both the driver and the outside populace should be given audible clues to the speed of the Volt at all times.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
#84 Cautious Fan
Do Gooder: Any one who wants to perform an act or have an act performed for the sake of mankind (or animal kind, in some cases) without fore thought to its consequences on the rest of mankind (or animal kind).
I, too, have three children and three grandchildren. I love them as much as a parent or grandparent can. I do not advocate anything that would harm people, animals or the envirnoment. I am not opposed to a sound system to warn people or animals that a vehicle is approaching. It just needs to be done correctly. The system developed by Lotus is a good example of the possibilities. It would be nice to know what GM is planning for the Volt. Then we could gauge if it will be better. Government and the “do gooders” generally have knee-jerk reactions to problems and usually make things worse. All I am saying is let’s study the problem and come up with some real solutions.
And, yes, having three children that you love and want to protect does make you a “do gooder”, but in a good way.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
do-gooder
Noun
Informal a well-intentioned but naive or impractical person
Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006
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A naive idealist who supports philanthropic or humanitarian causes or reforms.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
If GM keeps inching the delivery date back and the price up, the only sound will be a loud thud.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
And The Answer Is: an external air-bag shaped like a cow-catcher. If you really want to save lives mandate back-up sensors or back-up tweeters so people won’t back-up over their own kids.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Having a system that would emit some kind of warning sound when the vehicle is traveling at slow speeds sounds reasonable. Problem is, what is a slow speed. I have seen people, and kids, step out in front of on coming traffic where the speed limit was 45 mph. You just can not cover all the possibilities. We need to do something, I agree. But just what and how is the question. Doing something just because it feels good will only cause us more problems. We see evidence of that mentality all around us every day.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Maybe the Volt should make a Harley Davidson noise all the time so people know its coming when its still a mile away.
Then nobody would ever get hurt.
Or, the Volt could just be quiet.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I think a laser beam on all curbs that when a dog, a kid, cat, deer, old people, and the blind step through it they get zapped really hard and it makes them jump back so they won’t step in front of a really fast Volt comin down the road , never mind, second thought put it right on the EV!!
NO PLUG, NO SALE
October 28th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
You can put a blaring horn on every vehicle that sounds all the time and people and animals will still get hit every single day of the year. People are just not aware of their surroundings as well as they should be. That goes for drivers and pedestrians.
We could require all electric vehicles to have a flagman walking in front waving a flag and blowing a horn if the vehicles is traveling in a pedestrian area. That should help our economy by giving us full employment. (I hope everyone understands I am joking with this last tidbit.)
October 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Future mantras to go along with current No Plug No Sale:
No Warning Horn, No Sale?
No Radar, No Sale?
Big Price, No Sale?
No Cowcatcher, No Sale?
October 28th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
To all those who want to mandate that EVs make more, excessive and un-necessary sounds…..get real.
First, let me see you ban portable music devices. If you don’t then you will have to make sure that all portable music devices have a max volume that is quieter then the sound of all the silent EVs running around. This means that:
a) all personal audio devices need to be whisper quite so you can hear the EVs over them
b) all EV’s need to be obnoxiously loud so you can hear them over your personal audio device.
Otherwise, your are not serious about this topic.
Is it really worth it?? I think not.
LOL @ Statik #86
I say we all follow Statik’s logic. It makes more since and is far cheaper as well. Way to go Statik, always thinking about the economy.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Why not give us a variety of choices?
After-market producers will happily make all the kinds of sounds we want if we can plug a module in, or program a code in. From chugging train sounds to whirring starship sounds, we can choose from what gets offered. Volume or pitch can increase with vehicle speed and the sound needs only be projected forward.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
N Riley/multiple: So “do-gooders” are everyone who has a concern about accidents, who obvioulsy have no common sense, otherwise they would not be concerned? Except for yourself, who also has some level of concern since God has graced you with children and grandchildren, and so you will come up with an enlightened solution at some point and then share it with the rest of humanity? And the folks at GM who are actually working on this problem are not good enough for you and the other anti-do-gooders who posted today becuase…………?
In all seriousness, why on earth do so many people assume that they are the only ones with common-sense?
October 28th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I think it should like the Jetson’s flying car. Higher pitched harmonic with bubbles……..not sure if that is a very good description but dammit they said we would all have flying cars by now when I was a kid. If you don’t know what I mean go to Youtube and down load the jetson’s and give it a listen.
Okay they probably wouldn’t go for it so how about a mid-range three note harmonica chord. The sound would carry a great distance without being loud and it is not unpleasant to hear. I can’t take credit for that though I think it was the sound made by the cars in Logan’s Run.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Cure blindness. Problem solved.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Does the Prius make a sound? Lets get the battries and the car right and then worry about the sound.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
#110 MarkinWI
Don’t get so upset. The definition came from two dictionaries. I did not say I was a do-gooder nor did I say anyone who was was bad. I just stated a fact about government and people who want to do what they deem as the best thing for us. I think you need to go back and re-read the different comments I made.
I do have children and grandchildren and I do believe that I know what is best for them. I do not and would not try to apply that to someone else or to their children or grandchildren. That is something for them to decide, not me. So, “back off, Jack”, as they say.
And, just where did I say I had a solution? I remember call for studying the problem and coming up with the best solution. I even suggested studying the solution Lotus has brought forward. Not once did I suggest, except in jest about the flagman, a solution that I wanted to force onto anyone. I did say that I thought we needed something to protect people and animals. I am just not ready to accept the solution offered by knee-jerk bureaucrats and legislatures with it being studied some.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
A sound they say. Hmmm, Speakers of Audio aimed towards front and or the back.
Computer loaded sound?
What if I get to load the sound of my choice.
The sweet , sweet sounf of a Big Block 637 cubic inch ” Top Sportsman ‘” engine would be my choice. Especially when one could upload the sound and have it rise and fall depending on speed.
Well, I was wondering how or what sound the vehicle would make,if any. Certainly needs some discernable unique sound. Needs to have something in the way so it won’t be easily stolen without notice.
And what have they thought about for vehicle theft devices????
October 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
This sounds like people are assuming that driver will just run down pedestrians that don’t hear their car coming. Last time I checked, the driver is responsible for controlling their vehicle and not killing people, the sound of the car should have no bearing.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Why should it make any noise? People hearing impaired or not should be aware of their surroundings, as should the driver. What few Volts produced should eliminate at least some of the traffic noise pollution that exists now.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
At $35 to $40 grand a pop, the only sound the Chevy Volt will be making will be cha-ching… the sound of a dealerships cash register.
Tire, and at increasing speeds, wind accounts for most of the ‘noise’ many vehicles make when traveling. Noise suppression especially on some of the high end $$$ ICE vehicles has become a fine art with tuned exhaust systems and multiple mufflers…with these vehicles it’s hard to hear anything, inside or out. On some ICE vehicles the squeaking noise of the engine/accessory drive belts make the most noise.
Will the electric motor/drive train on an electric car not make a slight whine? .. that would be my expectation. A whine at say somewhere within an average persons comfortable hearing range of say 2khz through 3Khz might work and would sound appropriate. It would also signify that the vehicle is electric…an important marketing feature.
Too much extra noise really annoys people… In shopping mall parking lots I toot my horn to alert others when backing up, especially when my view is partially obstructed by lead sled guzzler/SUV’s in angled parking spots… yet people look at me with that annoyed “whats your problem bud” look when it’s just about safety and common sense, especially with hordes of little kids running around not looking where they are going. Hitting some little kid or Mum pushing a stroller when backing up is my ultimate nightmare.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
MarkinWI
“n all seriousness, why on earth do so many people assume that they are the only ones with common-sense?”
My brothers used to tell me that I had no common sense, just book sense. They understood common sense but could not as easily relate to me with my book sense. Of course, over the years I have always claimed that I did not have any common sense because of what my brothers used to say about me. But I do have some common sense. And I went back and re-read my comments and now I am left wandering if some else can read.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
What I don’t understand is why someone who is visually impaired would want to be crossing streets full of fast moving cars without the help of a guide dog or another sighted person anyway.
But, if any daredevils just have to move about the streets, I like the idea of making RF receivers available that could be worn like ear buds. A RF transmitter with a limited range would be a cheap addition to the price of a car, and a low power drain on the batteries. That way, the only noise polution will be for those who want/need it…
October 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
bob generic #111
I personally like the sounds of galloping horses over a wooden bridge or how about the old clanging bell from street cars. The sound of chain saws rip me up and who would deny “I feel good” by James Brown coming at you or for the more pedestrian, how about “get the h— out of the way” or “Knock You Down” Lyrics by 216. I think we should have a choice of sounds like ring tones on telephones.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
This notion that somehow the sight impaired need loud noises doesn’t make sense. One of the biggest complaints people have is traffic noise.
Car makers have spent millions trying to make quiet cars and now were going to add artificail noise ? Incomprehensible.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
At #59 Reginald Winworth III commented on the proposed donation of $10 billion from the world’s largest honey pot, aka the Wall Street bailout fund, to “facilitate” the merger of GM and Chrysler. Any comments on this bloggers? Or will Lyle give it its own thread in due time?
It’s really big stuff on the radio this AM.
IMHO, it’s a lot more germane to the survival of GM, and whether the Volt ever actually happens, than this silly noise issue which has been chewed to death here numerous times.
Will it really do anything to assure said survival and production or is it, as my brother and others have said, the desperate embrace of 2 drowning people, dragging each other under?
And I have to agree with Reginald. The spectacle of politicians waving the bloody shirt of “socialism” while this circus is going on would be funny, it it were not so dangerous.
“Privatize profit and socialize risk.”
October 28th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Why should the “ambient sounds” be hard-wired? Can’t those be elements of themes (like Windows themes)? One day, I might want my Volt to sound just like the Jetson’s car. The next, I might want a Wild West Stage Coach, or a ‘69 Olds 442, or a Model T, or a Raptor jet fighter, or some custom combo of all of them. Doesn’t this car have a few Gigs of solid-state user space? Just askin’
October 28th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I can wait! Here is a bumper sticker I made to put on my Volt!!
http://www.cafepress.com/bumperchuckles.181209409
October 28th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
#123 Noel Park
The merger of GM and Chrysler could be liken to the survivor standing on the shoulders of he other so he would not drown also. Of course, in that manner, if your under-pinnings are not strong and you can’t swim by yourself, it is just a matter of time.
I am not totally in favor of a bail-out of any company by the federal government (us taxpayers). At the same time, I do not want to see Chrysler bought by Nissan and Renault. Nor do I wish to see them shut down and all the jobs lost. Some jobs, by the thousands, I am afraid, will be lost in any case. No matter who buys or merges with Chrysler, jobs will be lost and plants will be closed. But, just like the swimmer standing on his counterpart’s shoulders, it is just a matter of time.
I say, make Ford and GM low cost loans and let them divide up Chrysler, if its owners do not want to stay in business. Keep it in the family, so to speak. Those loans should be aimed at getting Ford and GM on the way to producing today’s cars and trucks and moving them towards alternative fuel vehicles such as the Volt. It should not be wasted on hydrogen fueled vehicles because that is just not the way to go. Mandate electric cars and trucks. Mandate series hybrids (Volt like) for longer distance vehicles for cross state or country travel.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
btw… i paid $1.83/gallon for 87 octane gas today!
October 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Working with a wheelchair bound colleague, and travelling around the US and Europe with him raised my consciousness with respect to accomodation of the disabled. But I think this whole thing about forcing electric cars to make noise is seriously misguided. Walking into the street without looking both ways is unreasonably dangerous, and if you cannot see, you cannot look.
Listening is not an adequate way to check if it is safe to cross the street.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
If I bought a car with an artificial noisemaker, I would keep it on all the time. If a blind (can we still use that word?) person steps off the curb in front of you, and you did not activate the sound, the lawyers would take you for everything you have.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
#80 N Riley
Who are you referring to by “do gooders.” I have 3 kids and I want to make sure the noise is sufficient for their safety. Would I be considered a “do gooder?”
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I have always taught my daughter to look both ways before she crosses the street. This is the only reliable way to stay safe. Listening but not looking is unsafe.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
nuclearboy, #2:
“As far as noise goes, the cities who are worried about this issue should make the street slightly rough and then the tire noise will be sufficient to alert the blind. I was just in Amsterdam and the bikes are flying around everywhere (silently). The brick bike paths solve this issue because you can here the tire noise on these bike roads and that helps you avoid stepping out in front of a bike. This would be one solution for the cities.”
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Unfortunately, that would defeat the purpose of hybrid and electric cars, because a rough road means more energy is needed to travel that road. Especially at low speed, tire friction with the road is a big part of the total energy consumption. It would also decrease the amount of energy recovered during braking, because the road does more of the braking work than it normally would.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
#130 Tom H
Then you are a “do-gooder” but for the same obvious reasons as we all are. We love our children and try to teach them how to protect themselves and others as they make their way through this world. Each of us will do good each day as we try to improve our world and the life we live in it. If that makes us “do-gooders”, then let me join the party. But, our style of “do-gooder” is not bent on telling someone else how they should live their lives or how they should relate to the world around them. That is for each of us to decide.
You are very correct. “Listening but not looking is unsafe.” But remember, children are just children and will not always be thinking when they do something like cross the street. Drivers have a duty to be very watchful in suburban areas. Children can be expected to do the unexpected. As can we all.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
There is no easy solution to this problem, as we have all seen today just reading some of the comments made. I do not have a solution. I don’t think anyone else has a complete solution that will work every time and every where. Mostly because there is not one. But I am willing to wait until GM tells us what they are going to do to see how far along the path of a solution they will move us. Hopefully the automakers are much further along that path than what we have seen expressed here today. Some kind of solution will come. Just what kind and will it be acceptable to most drivers, we don’t know yet. It is very difficult to satisfy all the people all the time. I know I would not even try. You come up with what you and the people involved with you consider the best solution and then you move forward with it. So, we wait for a solution.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Especially socialize risk.
The latest I have heard is that there is a tax break written into this “bailout” that allows a bank that buys another bank to devalue the assets and then take a tax write off for the devaluation. The money that the banks have been given is not being loaned out as was intended, but is being used to buy other banks. The taxpayers are not only giving the bank the money to acquire other banks, but also paying for any lost profits due to devalued paper held by the purchased bank. That could be something like 2 or 3 trillion dollars. Of course the motivation will be to over devalue the assets then later make even more profit. This is the last run on the taxpayers pocketbook as the thieves in power leave. Orchestrated much like the rational for war. There are weapons of mass destruction, the sky is falling, the world will collapse. It worked again.
I think if the government finances the GM/Chrysler merger it will guarantee the death of GM. GM needs to go through bankruptcy and come out a lean and capable competitor.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
#134 Len
You forget the bill that passed the house and senate was written by the house and senate. The house and senate committees responsible for the tax bill is controlled by the Democrats. The bill submitted to the house and senate originally by the administration was three pages long and the one written and passed by the house and senate was over 400 pages long. The thieves, as you called them, are not leaving office. They are very well established in the house and senate. Those same thieves are already talking about doing another special bail-out because they did not put enough pork and earmarks for their friends in the first one. My opinion is that all, or very nearly all, politicians are crooks. If they were not when elected, they quickly become one. That is why I support term limits and no special retirement and health plans for government workers, congressmen and senators included along with administration employees. They should be in social security and Medicare just like the rest of us.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
If the Tesla can get 250 miles per charge why does the Volt only get 40 miles per charge?
Will the quality be better than Chevrolet? If not count me OUT!
The sound? Should be a choice of three sounds one of which is silence.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Personally im sick to death of car manufactures making cars “cool looking” or “neato” in some way. Like Harley Davidson purposefully making their motorcycles sound like a “perfect” H.D. bike. Making something based on image is how we got into the SUV problem in the first place. Just make our vehicles functional to the highest degree. Safety, efficiency then performance (as in how it drives). Let the looks and sound fall were they may.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
To set the record straight.
Members of Congress DO pay into Social Security. Since the early 80’s. Check it out before believing all those stupid chain emails
They also pay into a retirement plan. It is a good plan but not half as good as the average corporate VP’s retirement plan in any big corporation in the US.
October 28th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
The other 99% of the population is in most urban settings suffering from NOISE POLLUTION. Now how about balancing the interests of the majority against the interests of the minority and equipping the VI-people with some kind of improved detection devices instead of depriving most of the people of the progress new technology brings.
In the first days of the automobiles some silly legislators required every automobile to have a person running in front of it with a red flag to warn others of new & dangerous. Somehow this sort of rubbish rules got dropped pretty quick. No point making the same mistakes again!
October 28th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I think it should make the sound of the cars from the Jetsons.
October 28th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I think it was three pages on purpose. He wanted the congress to be outraged and working under a time constraint (artificial) so the lobbiests