Back in 2010, Congress demanded that automakers add identifying sounds to their EVs (and hybrid-powered models in EV-only mode) when operating at up to 18.6 miles per hour.
The DOT is allowing automakers to request the ability to build multiple sounds into the system, with the driver selecting how he or she wants his EV to resonate on that particular day.
“The quiet car rules will reportedly to cost automakers about $40 million a year. While that sounds like a lot of money to equip the nation’s burgeoning fleet of EVs to play what can be expected to be little more than video game sounds when they slow down to a crawl, much of the cost will be going into adding especially durable external speakers that will be able to stand up to rain, snow, and road salt without skipping a beat.”
Read the article at Forbes.
