The Garage 295

opinion 18
Opinion
The sound
of silence?
Reading this magazine,
there is a
chance that the
sound of a car still
means something to
you. You might also be one
of the people who could impress
your mates by identifying
a car coming towards
the workshop without seeing
it? Those days are, in the
main, long gone with most
vehicles sounding the same
or not making any sound at
all. But that’s set to change
for the near silent EVs and
hybrids that are a more common
sight in the workshop.
From the 1st July 2019, all
new types of private and
commercial electric and hybrid
vehicles with four or
more wheels must have an
Acoustic Vehicle Alert System
(AVAS) fitted. The EU ‘Regulation
on the Sound Level of
Motor Vehicle’ (EU 540/2014)
will ensure such vehicles are
more easily heard by pedestrians,
cyclists and vulnerable
groups such as blind,
children and the elderly.
When fitted to a vehicle, the
system will generate a sound
at speeds up to 20km/h,
whether it’s going forward or
in reverse at a level of 56dB,
about the level of a fridge or
electric toothbrush. Don’t
worry, it won’t sound like
either; it will have to be an
engine-like noise, and to help
pedestrians, the sound will
have to change, to be able to
demonstrate if the car is accelerating.
The background to this
law change is the rise in hybrid
and EVs on our roads
and the threat they pose in
low speed environments.
Campaign groups, including
notable blind charities have
pushed for this law for years.
A report from the Guide Dogs
charity found a 54 per cent
increase in pedestrian injuries
from accidents involving
quiet cars between 2012 and
2013.
To cope with this, tech
firms such as HARMAN have
been developing solutions
to bring a controlled level of
sound back. Its HALOsonic
system creates a sound that
is projected from speakers
packaged behind the bumper
at the front and rear of the vehicle.
Speed and throttle position
sensors determine the
volume and characteristics of
the sound generated to warn
pedestrians that a vehicle is
approaching, whilst also giving
an indication of its speed
and whether it is accelerating
or not.
It’s not just in Europe that
the law will be enforced. Other
countries such as the US,
have passed laws that might
differ slightly in implementation
but essentially aim to
offer the same safety advantages.
Whilst the sound has to be
engine-like, the actual sound
is not prescribed and it offers
those who could identify
a Morris Minor coming to the
garage at 200 yards away, a
chance to relive those days.
Injecting sound electronically
means it’s going to be possible
for car makes to give each
brand a different sound and
a chance to create some differentiation
once more!
18, 19 Opinion.indd 1 04/06/2019 09:46