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VIDEO: Driving The Nissan LEAF Test Mule

 
1,456 views Aug 4, 2009

Nissan LEAF

Nissan LEAF

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Just when you thought the Nissan LEAF mania was beginning to subside, the Green Car Advisor team posted this video of a test drive of the LEAF's powertrain. The drive took place at the automaker's track in Oppama, Japan last week.

Apparently, GCA's wily auto journalists convinced Fernando Menezes, of Nissan's corporate communications department to let them ride in the back of the LEAF test mule to "try their new cell phone sized video camera." That's car fanatic speak for "glean as much information as we can about your new EV and record it for YouTube." In any case, Menezes didn't seem to mind.

Judging by the brief glimpses of the cockpit in the video, it appears that this was a LEAF in Nissan Versa clothing. It didn't take long for the telltale auditory cues of an electric vehicle to betray the costume though. As the driver accelerates, a faint whir of increasing pitch is barely perceptible. Otherwise, the only sounds are those of wind noise, bumps in the road and the occasional commentary of the occupants.

This brings to the forefront a question that the hearing impaired community has repeatedly raised with regard to hybrid and electric vehicles. Are they too quiet?

Will EV soundtracks be the next frontier of the car customization business? Tell us what you think.

Source: Green Car Advisor





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Comments (4)

  1. By Rich Posted: 8/4/2009 7:30pm PDT

    As an avid bicycle rider, I can say with certainty that vehicles generate more wind noise and road noise externally than any engine or exhaust noise. Cars can be heard for 1/4 mile or more based on road noise alone. No sounds have to be added to an EV unless they find ways to eliminate these other noises.
     
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  2. rob_s avatar Robert Scardino Posted: 8/4/2009 8:34pm PDT

    Rich - I'm not so much concerned about what a car sounds like at speed. What about when it's stopping or pulling away from an intersection though? Those are the locations where most conflicts with pedestrians occur. Those are also the locations where EVs would make the least road/wind noise.
     
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  3. By Shock Me Posted: 8/5/2009 6:30am PDT

    Not sure it matters the pedestrians are all listening to their iPods....how about a bluetooth warning beacon?
     
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  4. By Luke Posted: 8/5/2009 9:59am PDT

    Shock Me,
    I'm a bicycle commuter, and I usually hear tire and brake sounds from cars at stopsigns and other intersections more than I hear engines.
    I second Rich's comment.
     
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