EV Magazine June 2023 | Page 79

The Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System ( AVAS ) is more than just a benefit ; it ’ s a required accessory in the eyes of regulators , ensuring that passing pedestrians , cycles , and e-mobility users are aware of EVs as they are passing by .

For EVs that would otherwise be ‘ silent ’, the AVAS generates sounds to be heard by vulnerable road users ( VRUs ). As these solutions are required in many nations across the globe , organisations are looking to their sound engineers to ensure that EVs meet the requirements of regulators .

JAY KAPADIA , CREATIVE SOUND DIRECTOR , GENERAL MOTORS

being silent can be dangerous . We have to alert pedestrians , but we want to do so in a pleasant way .”

This is particularly a concern for the visually impaired as authorities believe EVs , if silent , have a higher chance of accidents involving pedestrians than conventional cars . Research cited by the Royal National Institute of Blind People ( RNIB ) suggests that there ’ s a 40 % higher probability of collision .

Organisations developing EVs must abide by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ), which governs how sounds are used in this way . Aside from this globally recognised standard , there are various others to note as different regions abide by their own sets of rules . On top of this sound profile , General Motors is able to make the necessary tweaks to match its brand profile .

This is where Kapadia mentions AVAS as a solution designed into cars as a regulatory must-have solution for safety on the road . AVAS is critical in high-traffic and highpopulation areas , particularly cities where low-speed traffic accidents are more likely . This is also somewhat of a solution to future proof cars as they become part of a wider electrified transport ecosystem with a variety of moving parts .

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