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> but my disappointment is that we have the chance to be free from widespread traffic noise No, we don't have this chance unless you implement a 20 mph speed l

> but my disappointment is that we have the chance to be free from widespread traffic noise No, we don't have this chance unless you implement a 20 mph speed limit everywhere. Above that speed it matters less and less that you have an electric engine because the tires and aerodynamic noise will be the main sources of sound. That's why this regulation only requires the artifical sound up to 12 mph, above that speed they car is loud enough anyway.

legulere 7y ago
The motor is louder than the tires until around 40 km/h for cars and 60 km/h for trucks [1]. And it matters even a bit after that because noise is adding up. Those speeds are pretty close to how fast cars go where people live. [1]: http://www.leiserstrassenverkehr.bayern.de/entstehung/index.php http://www.leiserstrassenverkehr.bayern.de/entstehung/index....
- samastur 7y ago
  The limit doesn't have to be at the point where motor stops being louder. They only have to cover the range where all car induced noise is too quiet and only to extent necessary to mitigate this for EVs.
audunw 7y ago
You’re right, but it’s absolutely possible to optimize wind and tyre noise too, but it doesn’t make much sense unless you eliminate engine noise. There are already tyres marketed for EVs that claims to reduce noise. EVs also tend to optimize for lower air resistance as well, since it increases range. Seems like we’re getting cameras instead of mirrors too now. Another thing that would help a lot is if we can keep asphalt smooth. Driving an EV on fresh asphalt is incredibly satisfying, as it seems to eliminate most of the tyre noise. Maybe we could have automate vehicles laying down a thin layer of that rubbery material (bitumen?) regularly? Id also claim that winds and tyre noise is less annoying than engine noise. It’s more like a water fall, and don’t penetrate walls as much as, say, a deep rumbling truck engine.

legulere 7y ago

The motor is louder than the tires until around 40 km/h for cars and 60 km/h for trucks [1]. And it matters even a bit after that because noise is adding up. Those speeds are pretty close to how fast cars go where people live. [1]: http://www.leiserstrassenverkehr.bayern.de/entstehung/index.php http://www.leiserstrassenverkehr.bayern.de/entstehung/index....

samastur 7y ago
The limit doesn't have to be at the point where motor stops being louder. They only have to cover the range where all car induced noise is too quiet and only to extent necessary to mitigate this for EVs.

audunw 7y ago

You’re right, but it’s absolutely possible to optimize wind and tyre noise too, but it doesn’t make much sense unless you eliminate engine noise. There are already tyres marketed for EVs that claims to reduce noise. EVs also tend to optimize for lower air resistance as well, since it increases range. Seems like we’re getting cameras instead of mirrors too now. Another thing that would help a lot is if we can keep asphalt smooth. Driving an EV on fresh asphalt is incredibly satisfying, as it seems to eliminate most of the tyre noise. Maybe we could have automate vehicles laying down a thin layer of that rubbery material (bitumen?) regularly? Id also claim that winds and tyre noise is less annoying than engine noise. It’s more like a water fall, and don’t penetrate walls as much as, say, a deep rumbling truck engine.