What's The Best Place For Your Teen To Learn How...
News
Reviews
Guides
Gas Mileage
Car Types

Coming Soon: Car Tones for Your Electric Vehicle

 
2,085 views Oct 17, 2009

fisker_karma_profile_1024x768Enlarge Photo

The first time I started an electric car, I wondered the same thing everyone else wonders their first time: Is it on? Did it start or stall out? It’s so quiet!

Near-silent electric vehicles have been decried by advocates of pedestrian safety, and although there’s no data to suggest electric cars pose any greater threat to pedestrians than their louder, fossil-fueled counterparts, automakers have been pondering the issue for years.

One potential solution? Get Hollywood special effects sound artists involved. Using some of the same technology that creates downloadable, personalized ring-tones for your cell phone, teams of sound effects engineers are reportedly working on drive-tones for electric vehicles by BMW, Fisker, and Nissan. What might these drive-tones, or “car-tones” sound like? Henrik Fisker, founder of Fisker Automotive, says his Karma will sound like “a cross between a starship and a Formula One car.”

But the possibilities are endless, aren’t they? I know I’d prefer the theme song to any number of 1980’s TV series…  perhaps Magnum P.I. or The A-Team or Miami Vice?

Source: The New York Times 





Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (10)

  1. By Jason M. Hendler Posted: 10/17/2009 6:33am PDT

    I hope there is a federal agency to approve these "car tones", so that they truly meet the alert requirements that safety advocates demand, while not exceeding noise standards, as they have for some motorcycles.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. By JennKstep Posted: 10/17/2009 7:50am PDT

    Actually, that's a good point, Jason... like Harley Davidson says, "Loud pipes save lives." But would we want everyone's car to be that loud? No way. Noise pollution.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. By Bill Posted: 10/17/2009 7:51am PDT

    These people need to go stand by a road and listen to cars before they think up ridiculous non-problems.
    Today's ICE cars are nearly silent except for tire noise which is 90% of their audio signature.
    Presumably, EV's will make the same tire noise.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. By  Sean Posted: 10/17/2009 10:50am PDT

    Speaking of '80's themes, I think Knight Rider would top my list for a car tone. Here is a link: http://www.televisiontunes.com/Knight_Rider.html
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. By Jason M. Hendler Posted: 10/17/2009 12:18pm PDT

    I can read the police report now. Blind man reports a hit 'n run in Compton from a vehicle whose car tone was "Gin and Juice".
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. By Noel Park Posted: 10/17/2009 1:43pm PDT

    #3 Bill:
    I totally agree. There is also aero noise. We need less noise, not more. This whole "issue" (non-issue) really irritates me.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. By April Hare Posted: 10/17/2009 6:36pm PDT

    Why not have a Icecream Van sound? You know, some old Greensleeves played badly? That way, the local kids can gather and watch your Tesla Roadster pass by :D
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. By B-Man Posted: 10/18/2009 1:40am PDT

    Umm....make mine some vintage Foghat. Oh, wait,
    no need to make a sound for my electric car that
    "sounds like Foghat," I'll already be blasting out
    loud, obnoxious rock music from inside my all-elec-
    tric rig to the waiting world outside. Is this a non-issue...or what?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  9. By Connor Posted: 10/19/2009 6:49am PDT

    The sounds should mimic bird calls of all the winged creatures that have gone extinct since the invention of the internal combustion engine.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  10. By N Riley Posted: 10/21/2009 11:10am PDT

    I agree tire noise should be sufficient. Pedestrians should take a little time and listen as well as look, if they are able, before crossing the street.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Find Green Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
Green Car Reports
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 Green Car Reports. All Rights Reserved. Green Car Reports is published by High Gear Media. Send us feedback. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC.