Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems for Electric Vehicles

 

July 2023: Silent Electric vehicles pose an additional danger to blind Ashfield resident Gisele Mesnage who relies on her guide dog Nyota... https://cityhubsydney.com.au/2023/07/elderly-residents-locked-out-of-new-ashfield-park-by-lack-of-zebra-crossings/

 

2018: Electric cars in Australia to include safety sound

"Vision Australia welcomes the federal government’s announcement that plans are underway to mandate a minimum sound requirement in electric and hybrid vehicles in Australia." https://www.visionaustralia.org/news/2019-08-30/electric-cars-australia-include-safety-sound

 

May 2023: Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems for Electric Vehicles

We're[were] seeking feedback on whether to have all new light electric road vehicles (including fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid vehicles) fitted with an audio alerting system. [This consultation is closed. submission by 26 May 2023.] https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/acoustic-vehicle-alerting-systems-electric-vehicles

 

WikiPedia: "Electric vehicle warning sounds are sounds designed to alert pedestrians to the presence of electric drive vehicles such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) travelling at low speeds. Warning sound devices were deemed necessary by some government regulators because vehicles operating in all-electric mode produce less noise than traditional combustion engine vehicles and can make it more difficult for pedestrians and cyclists (especially the blind or short-sighted) to be aware of their presence."...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle_warning_sounds (viewed 23 July 2023)