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But Would You WANT Your Prius To Sound Like a Spaceship?

 
3,331 views Dec 8, 2009
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A new study concludes that Prius repairs cost 8.4 percent more than repairs on non-hybrid economy cars.

A new study concludes that Prius repairs cost 8.4 percent more than repairs on non-hybrid economy cars.

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With early data now showing that hybrid cars seem to hit pedestrians more often, carmakers are ramping up efforts to find ways of alerting people when a nearby car is operating in electric mode.

Now the UK's Group Lotus Engineering has come up with a noise-generating system, one of several approaches to noise-making equipment for electric-drive cars.

Its HALOsonic External Electronic Sound Synthesis system creates a range of different noises, from a droning buzz to simulated exhaust sounds from a variety of virtual engines.


Their reversing ping sounds particularly annoying, and we're not quite sure they've nailed the "American V8" exactly. But their two "futuristic" options make their second-generation (2004-2009) test Prius sound like something from a science fiction movie.

Which made us chuckle if nothing else.

The video below shows the Halosonic system in operation. We'll let you decide whether this is something you would want to add to your own Toyota Prius to address the lack of noise when it's running in pure electric mode.

The need for audible warnings will become even more acute with the arrival next year of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, which can run 40 miles on electricity from its battery pack.

Two weeks ago, GM said it would work with the National Federation of the Blind on a pedestrian alert system operated by the driver.

[Group Lotus via Jalopnik]





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Comments (7)

  1. Christof Posted: 12/12/2009 12:50pm PST

    Notice that the study on Prius and accidents does NOT tell us why more accidents happen. There's correlative relation, not a causation relation. Of course, most people don't understand the difference between correlation and causation, so it doesn't surprise me that there's a growing -- and misinformed -- movement to make hybrids, EVs/PHEVs, etc. as loud as gas cars. In fact, one can argue loud cars kill because when it's too loud, it's much harder to discern individual noises. Finally, it's really the tire and wind noise that provides the biggest warning. Pay attention the next time you're out and about to how you cue into moving cars. It's sight and then tire and wind noise. In any case, I'm taking a hard look at the loosey-goosey claim that hybrids, EVs etc. are allegedly dangerous because they're too quiet in a series of blog entries stories at SolarChargedDriving.Com.
     
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  2. Joe Posted: 12/16/2009 3:37pm PST

    I would like to install that on my Lotus Exige - so I can make it sound like a spaceship! That would be very fun to drive around and have cools sounds coming out of your car!
     
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  3. micro sd Posted: 12/19/2009 1:18am PST

    Toyota plans to use the lithium-ion batteries because it will take up less space and produce more power. Toyota has committed to having the plug-in version of the Prius available to the market in 2010 with an electric motor that can travel up to 62 mph and run on electricity for up to 7 miles. Once depleted, the batteries take three to four hours to recharge; they could in theory be charged by the Prius' gas engine as the vehicle rolls down the highway.
     
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  4. luxury car Posted: 1/21/2010 3:02am PST

    Can run 40 miles on electricity from its battery pack. It is funny. Our technical opportunities can produce auto better that chevrolet which can run 40 miles. In russia usual human make car which run 2 hours by speed 80 km/h. Above creation Chevrolet work all company.
    Bad that company car hamper development electric car.
     
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  5. buy ps3 Posted: 2/5/2010 7:37pm PST

    never knew that hybrid cars are hitting people so much.
     
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  6. samson Posted: 2/5/2010 7:46pm PST

    why would they make it sound like something from a sci fi movie? Sometimes i wonder about these developers.
     
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  7. chad Posted: 12/22/2010 6:27am PST

    The quietness may not be the cause of the accidents however more noise would provide an alert to pedestrians so they could take evasive action. While a pedestrian has the right of way that feeling of I did nothing wrong will not give you back your ability to use your arms and legs.
    Personally I would love this feature would be fun to get a Sam Kinison CarTone... or maybe a Rush Limbaugh tone to really piss off all the lefties... course id install it on my v10 gas guzzling truck.
     
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