51–60 of 303 posts
Noise is just wasted energy that could be doing useful work unless, of course, you actually want the noise (like in a musical instrument). This is a really weird trend.
Noise is just wasted energy that could be doing useful work unless, of course, you actually want the noise (like in a musical instrument). This is a really weird trend.
The power in noise is actually fairly low. Like single digit watts low, for deafening noise.
Noise is a symptom of "slop" in an engine. It might be unavoidable, but it's still a symptom of wasted energy.
I have no problem with manufacturers including fake engine noise as a feature as long as it can be disabled by the customer.
Perhaps it should just be used when a pedestrian is near? It's bad enough worrying about cars that are making legal maneuvers, but when an electric car doesn't follow the rules, it's that much more dangerous.
In Amsterdam one of the bigger reasons given for the reduction of speeds on some roads is that it reduces the noise pollution. It would seem backwards to require cars to make more noise than they strictly have to. That said in mixed traffic situations it may save some lives, so essentially this proves all those guys that drove without dampers in their exhausts and bumper stickers saying 'loud pipes save lives' right…
This article strangely managed to conflate the two by bringing up external electronic car noisemakers, which are entirely unrelated in both purpose and execution to the noisemaking devices explained throughout the rest of the article.
I drive a Leaf and a Volt, both technically electric cars. The sprinting power of an electric is pretty good, I often take modded civics off the line (stoplight) in the Leaf; the point being that electric cars can quickly move to a spot you don't anticipate them. The Volt has a 'pedestrian warning horn' that, when engaged by the driver, gently and rapidly beeps the horn to draw attention to the Volt. Since it is enga…
>>> As a cyclist, I enjoy having good situational awareness, and electric cars can definitely be surprising when they pass you. The car could have a bell and "on your left" speaker. ;-)
I hate the idea of a fake engine noise, but I drive a manual transmission and I know I use my ears a lot to know when to shift.
I drove my last 5-speed 2000 Jeep Wrangler from Alaska to Argentina, and I've owned a stack of stick-shift vehicles before, so it's not like I'm new to this.
I'm sure I'll get the hang of it, sooner or later.
I want the Jetsons' car sound. My bother wants a Star Wars TIE fighter and my father in law would like the sound of a B-17, please.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>>> As a cyclist, I enjoy having good situational awareness, and electric cars can definitely be surprising when they pass you. The car could have a bell and "on your left" speaker. ;-)
A revving engine would be less disruptive. It's a noise that most of us filter out, except those in situations which make them on alert for oncoming traffic, e.g. pedestrians and cyclists.
Am I the only one that associates loud noise with a weak engine? To me a powerful car just has an acceleration whine, and that's all. It's like a rocket exhaust: the "wilder" it is the weaker it is. A powerful, well tuned, rocket has a very sharp, and clean (i.e. not noisy) flame. Same with a car - if it's making a lot of noise, it's poorly tuned or designed.
100 years from now cars will still make a vestigial sound that is simply taken for granted and not really considered until some wise-ass at a party starts in "Funny story..."