Speakers put the 'vroom' into electric cars

August 7, 2008 11:46 AM

While they are loved by sandal-wearing, tree-hugging hippies everywhere, electric cars are not as popular with people who get run over because they can't hear them coming.

But now a sportscar manufacturer thinks it has got a solution - make the eco-friendly vehicles sound like supercars.

Lotus, famous for gas guzzling cars, has created a electric "Safe and Sound" demo car which makes the noise of a V8 engine.

It is fitted with a waterproof speaker mounted above the radiator which plays a sound based on the vehicle's speed and throttle position.

"Our advanced external sound synthesis technology increases pedestrian safety, while retaining the car's environmental benefits," said Mike Kimberley of Lotus.

"We hope that legislators introduce minimum noise requirements for vehicles to encourage the adoption of technologies, such as ours, which will ultimately increase pedestrian safety"

The move has also won support from campaigners worried about the safety impact of silent electric and hybrid cars.

Duncan Vernon, Road Safety Manager, at RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) said: "Road safety professionals teach children that they can improve their safety by listening for traffic, and the sound of an approaching vehicle is a warning that most pedestrians will use before making the decision to cross the road.

"New electric engines make vehicles much quieter, so we need to look at ways of ensuring the safety of pedestrians. We welcome innovative solutions which address this."

Clive Wood, Transport Policy Officer at The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association added: "Blind and partially sighted people use the noise of oncoming traffic as a cue for when it is safe to cross a road – if a 'quiet' hybrid electric vehicle is approaching then they will no longer have this cue and are immediately put at risk.

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