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Having daily driven a dual-motor electric car, two turbodiesel cars (both modern and classic), and a modern Honda V6, I can tell you that the electric car is si

Having daily driven a dual-motor electric car, two turbodiesel cars (both modern and classic), and a modern Honda V6, I can tell you that the electric car is significantly quieter, especially at lower speeds and when accelerating, both inside and outside the car. You're right that tire noise is significant, though, and that electric cars (and trucks and buses!) are not completely silent. They are definitely MUCH quieter than the drum-drum-drum of an accelerating diesel truck engine, though! Now, if only they could get rid of that annoying beep-beep-beep a reversing truck makes...

cstross 10y ago
The reversing beep-beep ain't going to go any time soon -- it's a audio warning to prevent workers being crushed under reversing trucks. (It might go if and when reversing cameras, which are now standard on automobiles, become standard on trucks ... but there are headaches implicit in adding them to articulated lorries: what about side blind-spots? What about the trailer, as opposed to the tractor? What if a trailer-camera isn't hooked up -- should it be impossible to reverse an electric tractor if it has a trailer hook-up but no signal from the camera on the trailer?)
- samcheng 10y ago
  Maybe automated trucks won't need that beep, once they can be trusted to stop before crushing anyone behind them?
  - Avshalom 10y ago
    You'd still want something shouting "get out of the way, we're working here" because you don't want to have to stop.
    - samcheng 10y ago
      We'll know automated cars have truly arrived when they start using the horn against humans.
- Scottopherson 10y ago
  Not necessarily. It's being changed in some places because studies show that there are safer (and less annoying) noises that can be utilized: Tom Scott - Why Do Reversing Trucks Not Beep Any More? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa28lIGuxq8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa28lIGuxq8 As someone with construction taking place next door to me I really wish they would start getting rid of the beeping in more places. I'm pessimistic that it will happen in my area anytime soon though.
- mkj 10y ago
  The beep-beep could be a lot quieter in general, just needs to have something so it's adaptive to the current ambient noise level. At the moment it has to be loud enough for any situation.
FrojoS 10y ago
Well look I'm a big Tesla fan, too. When it comes for those _outside_ the vehicle the OP is right. Where I live I get engaged by Model Ss all the time in city traffic, either on bike or on foot. For me, there is no noticeable difference between a _modern_ car and a Tesla when it comes to the noise level. Perhaps it's bias as I might expect the Tesla to be more quiet than it is, but anyway that's my perception.
- samcheng 10y ago
  Here's my experience outside the vehicle - I live about two miles from Tesla HQ in an area where electric vehicles of all types are common, and bike frequently in close proximity to motor vehicles. You're right that there is still noise, particularly from the tires, and that they are actually surprisingly loud if you are expecting silence (mostly tire noise, particularly when turning, plus a little high-pitched whine). But when accelerating from a stop, compared to a gas car or especially a truck, the difference is noticeable. No 'vroom' or 'rattle' or 'rumble.' Trucks in particular can be window-shakingly loud. Priuses are also nice and quiet...
  - FrojoS 10y ago
    All true. Also important to note that it would be dangerous if the car was completely silent. Even if the car is autonomous and has a crazy smart AI, there can be accidents if people outside don't notice the car. Also, any car will spin up dust from the road that people outside breath up. I think, the only way to truly increase quality of life for pedestrian and bikers is to have zones and streets which are banned for cars, like many European city centers. Relevant illustration: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24948/to-a-pedestrian-a-roads-a-tiny-space-with-danger-just-beside/ http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24948/to-a-pedestri...
    - WalterBright 10y ago
      I'm surprised that many areas in Seattle don't ban cars during business hours. There are many places in Europe that do that, except that they make just enough exceptions for this or that car that it still makes it hard to be a pedestrian.

cstross 10y ago

The reversing beep-beep ain't going to go any time soon -- it's a audio warning to prevent workers being crushed under reversing trucks. (It might go if and when reversing cameras, which are now standard on automobiles, become standard on trucks ... but there are headaches implicit in adding them to articulated lorries: what about side blind-spots? What about the trailer, as opposed to the tractor? What if a trailer-camera isn't hooked up -- should it be impossible to reverse an electric tractor if it has a trailer hook-up but no signal from the camera on the trailer?)

samcheng 10y ago
Maybe automated trucks won't need that beep, once they can be trusted to stop before crushing anyone behind them?
- Avshalom 10y ago
  You'd still want something shouting "get out of the way, we're working here" because you don't want to have to stop.
  - samcheng 10y ago
    We'll know automated cars have truly arrived when they start using the horn against humans.
Scottopherson 10y ago
Not necessarily. It's being changed in some places because studies show that there are safer (and less annoying) noises that can be utilized: Tom Scott - Why Do Reversing Trucks Not Beep Any More? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa28lIGuxq8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa28lIGuxq8 As someone with construction taking place next door to me I really wish they would start getting rid of the beeping in more places. I'm pessimistic that it will happen in my area anytime soon though.
mkj 10y ago
The beep-beep could be a lot quieter in general, just needs to have something so it's adaptive to the current ambient noise level. At the moment it has to be loud enough for any situation.

FrojoS 10y ago

Well look I'm a big Tesla fan, too. When it comes for those _outside_ the vehicle the OP is right. Where I live I get engaged by Model Ss all the time in city traffic, either on bike or on foot. For me, there is no noticeable difference between a _modern_ car and a Tesla when it comes to the noise level. Perhaps it's bias as I might expect the Tesla to be more quiet than it is, but anyway that's my perception.

samcheng 10y ago
Here's my experience outside the vehicle - I live about two miles from Tesla HQ in an area where electric vehicles of all types are common, and bike frequently in close proximity to motor vehicles. You're right that there is still noise, particularly from the tires, and that they are actually surprisingly loud if you are expecting silence (mostly tire noise, particularly when turning, plus a little high-pitched whine). But when accelerating from a stop, compared to a gas car or especially a truck, the difference is noticeable. No 'vroom' or 'rattle' or 'rumble.' Trucks in particular can be window-shakingly loud. Priuses are also nice and quiet...
- FrojoS 10y ago
  All true. Also important to note that it would be dangerous if the car was completely silent. Even if the car is autonomous and has a crazy smart AI, there can be accidents if people outside don't notice the car. Also, any car will spin up dust from the road that people outside breath up. I think, the only way to truly increase quality of life for pedestrian and bikers is to have zones and streets which are banned for cars, like many European city centers. Relevant illustration: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24948/to-a-pedestrian-a-roads-a-tiny-space-with-danger-just-beside/ http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24948/to-a-pedestri...
  - WalterBright 10y ago
    I'm surprised that many areas in Seattle don't ban cars during business hours. There are many places in Europe that do that, except that they make just enough exceptions for this or that car that it still makes it hard to be a pedestrian.