Electric Cars Considered Dangerous

Thursday, 21. October 2010

: Image via Wikipedia

Electric vehicles are too quiet! I mentioned this in one of my very early articles about the introduction of electric vehicles. With no engine, only a fairly quiet motor, electric vehicles could pose a danger to pedestrians and cyclists. Modec, manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles has said that of all the vehicles built over the past 3 years, only one customer, Royal Mail, has asked for noise awareness equipment to be fitted. They say this is because the vans are being used in large hangers so they asked for devices producing intermittent bleeping noises to be fitted, not to make pedestrians or cyclists aware of their presence. Marks and Spencer see the situation differently and say that they like the fact that they have vans making deliveries in London and other urban areas without making a noise and emission free. The European Commission is looking into the problem and is expected to introduce minimum noise legislation. In the meantime a noise evaluation company, NoViSim and Professor Paul Jennings of Warwick University are looking into the problem by driving around an electric van on campus. They can already replicate the sound of an engine inside the vehicle but they are now looking at replicating the noise of the engine outside the vehicle in anticipation of legislation. I stick to my idea of strapping a couple of crates of milk to the roof killing two birds with one stone, it worked for me when I was a child, I don’t know of anyone getting knocked down by a milk float! Do you think electric cars should be made noisier? By Graham Hill