Are EVs too quiet

[boyfrom64]

When my wife left this morning to goto the gym before work, and I was lying in bed (I can do that now I'm retired ) I did not hear the car pull off the drive.
The same applies for when she comes home from work on an evening. When I was working I would be home before her, and when we had 2 ICE cars, if I did not hear the car pull up on the drive, the dogs would. However, since getting the MG4, the dogs do not sense that she is back.
Now don't get me wrong, I love the lack of engine noise when we are in the car but not hearing my wife leave this morning did get me thinking about those people who have a hearing disability or total lack of hearing, and what the impact is on their lives.
So my question is, and I'm guessing it has probably already been discussed, should EVs make some form of noise to alert those with hearing disabilities/ total lack of hearing, even if only at low speed?

 

[Black estate]

I've been driving a Mercedes E truck and apart from the compressor kicking in amd out there's similar motor noise to am Ev car .

 

[GaryMG4]

We had this conversation with a friend recently as our Kia does make a 1950s scifi spaceship noise at low speed plus a reversing beep. She was concerned about riding her horse along the roads, but cycles don't make much noise either. As a driver we should assume any pedestrian may not be aware of our presence whatever we drive. Yesterday as I approached two joggers side by side, from behind in the MG, the one on the outside dropped back so they must have heard me ok.
Not sure any form of noise alert would help someone with a total lack of hearing.

 

[Ian Key]

As a retired bus driver I can vouch for the fact that a lot of people don't hear or see a 40 foot bus with an 10 litre diesel engine so a futuristic noise from an EV stands no chance of being noticed.

So my question is, and I'm guessing it has probably already been discussed, should EVs make some form of noise to alert those with hearing disabilities/ total lack of hearing, even if only at low speed?

If they have poor or no hearing they wouldn't hear an ICE car either but as they are aware of their disability their observation will be greater than able bodied people.

Yesterday as I approached two joggers side by side, from behind in the MG, the one on the outside dropped back so they must have heard me ok.

I don't think driving at normal speeds EVs are particularly quieter than ICE cars as both produce tyre noise and most of the engine noise comes after the car has passed you.

It's only at slow speeds in car parks that you have to be aware pedestrians won't be aware of you.

 

[Rolfe]

When I'm cycling I don't notice any difference between ICE and EVs passing me. It's mostly tyre noise whichever.

 

[Micropop]

When I'm cycling I don't notice any difference between ICE and EVs passing me. It's mostly tyre noise whichever.

This. There's too much noise around us already. Adding even more artificial noise would just be ridiculous.

 

[Rolfe]

I did have a slightly scary experience when two cars roared past me on the A701, doing about Mach 4. I pedalled on regardless. Round the next bend there was a mobile speed trap. It must have caught them. Bwahahahaha.

 

[Anon70]

I would say yes they are too quiet and even the regs do not really go far enough...

Electric and hybrid cars: new rules on noise emitting to protect vulnerable road users

single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu

Electric vehicles: Department for Transport clarifies rule on sound generators

If you're affected by sight loss, we're here for you

www.rnib.org.uk

New noise systems to stop ‘silent’ electric cars and improve safety

From 1 July 2019 all manufacturers must install an acoustic sound system in new types of quiet electric and hybrid electric vehicles to improve road safety.

www.gov.uk

 

[MG Clive]

We live in a cul-de-sac of 15 houses, and about 10 of the other households have to drive past us to get out, so when Paul drives past in his Golf R, or Tony drives past in his 2016 Focus RS, or Leanne drives by in her diesel Merc, or Ben goes to work in his Audi S3, and others, I know by the sound of their cars who is coming and going. What I'm trying to say is, if they all drove EVs, I wouldn't have a damn clue what's going on in the street.

 

[Ian Key]

We live in a cul-de-sac of 15 houses, and about 10 of the other households have to drive past us to get out, so when Paul drives past in his Golf R, or Tony drives past in his 2016 Focus RS, or Leanne drives by in her diesel Merc, or Ben goes to work in his Audi S3, and others, I know by the sound of their cars who is coming and going. What I'm trying to say is, if they all drove EVs, I wouldn't have a damn clue what's going on in the street.

You'd have to peek from behind the net curtains

 

[mGizmo]

Most pedestrians now have earbuds in and are staring at their phones. A man in front of the car with a red flag and a megaphone would go unnoticed.

 

[Archev]

Nice exhaust notes around Fort William 4th to 9th May. Scottish Six Day Trials motorcycle riding in and around the town.
Will there be any peaceful electric bikes there?? I doubt it but live in hope

 

[MG Clive]

You'd have to peek from behind the net curtains

Oh no, I'd have to buy net curtains.

 

[fnegroni]

the Urban is way louder than my previous mg4

 

[NikLiverpool]

Most pedestrians now have earbuds in and are staring at their phones. A man in front of the car with a red flag and a megaphone would go unnoticed.

This. New EVs with the noise they generate at low speeds are fine.
Every time I go to a shopping centre or anything like that older people can hear the car fine. Younglings with their faces buried in their phones and headphones on wouldn't realise a challenger2 roaring next to them.

We don't need more noise to accommodate inconsiderate behaviour.

 

[Rolfe]

My cat learned the sound of my car, and came running when he heard me come home. At first I was driving my dad's car, then I bought a Fiesta of my own, and he ignored it. Then he learned I was now in the Fiesta and started running to it. I happened to mention this when a group of neighbours (same block of flats, communal parking space) and one woman who also had a Fiesta exclaimed, so that's why your cat comes running to my car! He could tell the make but not the actual car, it seems.

 

[Rolfe]

This. New EVs with the noise they generate at low speeds are fine.
Every time I go to a shopping centre or anything like that older people can hear the car fine. Younglings with their faces buried in their phones and headphones on wouldn't realise a challenger2 roaring next to them.

We don't need more noise to accommodate inconsiderate behaviour.

I crept up on a young lad walking on the narrow village street with noise-cancelling headphones on. He was on the very narrow pavement but I could tell he was about to do something stupid so I stayed behind him. Sure enough, he stepped sideways into the road without looking.

I swear if I'd been revving a Harley-Davidson he wouldn't have noticed.

 

[GaryMG4]

I crept up on a young lad walking on the narrow village street with noise-cancelling headphones on. He was on the very narrow pavement but I could tell he was about to do something stupid so I stayed behind him. Sure enough, he stepped sideways into the road without looking.

I swear if I'd been revving a Harley-Davidson he wouldn't have noticed.

Funny how you just know when someone isn't paying attention and about to do something stupid. We have a roundabout that is properly signed, of the three lanes entering, the left is 1st exit only, the second is 1st and 2nd exit, the third is 2nd and the rest. The number of times people on the inside get irate with me because I am using the correct middle lane to take the first exit because I then turn right but they want the 2nd exit despite being in the first exit only lane.

 

[Everest]

so when Paul drives past in his Golf R, or Tony drives past in his 2016 Focus RS, or Leanne drives by in her diesel Merc, or Ben goes to work in his Audi S3, and others, I know by the sound of their cars who is coming and going.

your hearing is truely remarkable; because my intuition told me and a Google search confirmed that...

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf R and Audi S3 share the same 2.0-liter turbocharged "EA888" inline-four engine, now in its fourth generation (Evo 4), producing 333 horsepower in the latest models & both vehicles utilize a seven-speed DSG transmission and all-wheel drive.

But maybe Ben has rap music blaring out at 120dB ?

 

[MG Clive]

But maybe Ben has rap music blaring out at 120dB ?

Ben's S3 has a Milltek cat-back, the R is just standard.