Automakers Exploring Ways to Make Electric Cars Louder, Safer

2011 Nissan Leaf EV

Washington DC September 25, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that Toshiyuki Tabata spent 30 years as a Nissan engineer trying to make gasoline-powered cars quieter. Now he's consulting music composers to make electric cars noisier – and safer.

According to the Detroit News, electric and hybrid cars, with little or no engine noise, are lauded for their silence, yet some groups including advocates for the blind say pedestrians may fail to notice them approaching.

To address those safety concerns, transportation agencies in the United States and Japan may mandate artificial sounds for the vehicles. Carmakers including Nissan and Toyota, manufacturer of the Prius gasoline-electric hybrid, are researching sound as more silent models come to market.

Nissan will start selling its Leaf electric car next year in the U.S., Japan, and Europe, while General Motors plans to introduce its extended range electric Chevy Volt in late 2010. Toyota will introduce a battery-powered vehicle in 2012.

NHTSA is analyzing data on crashes involving pedestrians and hybrid vehicles and plans to issue a final report by January. Even though regulators haven't yet issued rules or guidelines, Nissan may equip the Leaf with its sound system in time for the car's introduction next year.

For more on possible rules to make electric vehicles louder, click here.