Such a change is likely to split the crowd , with daily commuters and travelling professionals on one side and the ‘ petrolheads ’ on the other . There are many who espouse the seductive nature of car sounds , from the V8 rumbles in classic American muscle cars to the bellowing , crackling exhaust pipes expelling fumes from high-cylinder engines .

For many , the idea of silent vehicles dooms the automotive industry , but from a sustainability standpoint , ICEs just aren ’ t feasible , long-term . This is perhaps why EVs come under all possible scrutiny , such as the lack of convenience — being remedied as we speak — or the danger around silence and the impact this may have on the passing public .

The safety concern is a very real one , with automotive regulators having to specify what car makers must do to comply with health and safety standards , which is why the industry has gone full circle – vehicle sounds are back .

If you listen closely , you ’ ll already hear them . OEMs are being held accountable via regulatory bodies to ensure that EVs meet the minimum sound requirements to make them safer for road use . The system used is referred to as the acoustic vehicle alert system – as explained by an accomplished sound designer from one of the leading automotive firms in the US .

“ All of our EVs have this regulatory sound to alert pedestrians walking on the road ; it makes them aware that a vehicle is passing by ,” says Jay Kapadia , Creative Sound Director at General Motors . “ EVs

76 [ June 2023 ] EVMAGAZINE . COM