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I own an electric car with no artificial external sound. I'd like to have an optional sound. Using the horn is an act of aggression, but enabling a Jetsons-lik

I own an electric car with no artificial external sound. I'd like to have an optional sound. Using the horn is an act of aggression, but enabling a Jetsons-like sound when I want to alert pedestrians would be very useful. You should be able to disable it. For example, when coming home and parking late at night (headlights are visible then and it is quiet so a sound causes pollution).

Symbiote 7y ago
In Florence (Firenze) some years ago, the Prius taxis in the historic centre had bicycle bells. I don't consider that cars should move faster than pedestrians in a city centre, so I won't change my behaviour if I'm already walking. However, it's useful to ask people standing to move to the side.
Shivetya 7y ago
I would prefer the sound to be universal instead of a mishmash of discordant sounds that we will end up with as every manufacturer tries to stand out, worse when each car may be different just from one manufacturer
- madez 7y ago
  We must be able to differentiate a phone playing a sound and a car by hearing alone, and that very quickly. We need a sound similar to emergency vehicle sirens but obviously less loud and dramatic. So it is very important to have a universal class of sounds, and it must be forbidden to play sounds of that class on a street for other things.
rsync 7y ago
"I'd like to have an optional sound. Using the horn is an act of aggression ..." I have considered this as well. That is, setting aside the issue of electric noise vs. ICE noise, I think all cars should have two horn noises - the normal "horn" and a universally defined two-beep "friendly" horn. That "friendly" horn would be very useful in many driving situations and would make many interactions less confusing / antagonistic.
- kaybe 7y ago
  You can use the normal horn in a friendly way. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what is different, maybe timing? For example, very short honks can be friendly.
  - karthikb 7y ago
    Unless you misjudge how long you press. It’s not foolproof. And even a short blast can be heard a block away indoors.
jonaswouters 7y ago
here is a DIY video with 2 more gentle sound options. It should be standard in cars imho. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv8wqnk_TsA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv8wqnk_TsA
rkangel 7y ago
My girlfriend (who drives a normal petrol car) has always wanted an 'excuse me' horn. Something politer than honking that you can use to remind people you exist.

Symbiote 7y ago

In Florence (Firenze) some years ago, the Prius taxis in the historic centre had bicycle bells. I don't consider that cars should move faster than pedestrians in a city centre, so I won't change my behaviour if I'm already walking. However, it's useful to ask people standing to move to the side.

Shivetya 7y ago

I would prefer the sound to be universal instead of a mishmash of discordant sounds that we will end up with as every manufacturer tries to stand out, worse when each car may be different just from one manufacturer

madez 7y ago
We must be able to differentiate a phone playing a sound and a car by hearing alone, and that very quickly. We need a sound similar to emergency vehicle sirens but obviously less loud and dramatic. So it is very important to have a universal class of sounds, and it must be forbidden to play sounds of that class on a street for other things.

rsync 7y ago

"I'd like to have an optional sound. Using the horn is an act of aggression ..." I have considered this as well. That is, setting aside the issue of electric noise vs. ICE noise, I think all cars should have two horn noises - the normal "horn" and a universally defined two-beep "friendly" horn. That "friendly" horn would be very useful in many driving situations and would make many interactions less confusing / antagonistic.

kaybe 7y ago
You can use the normal horn in a friendly way. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what is different, maybe timing? For example, very short honks can be friendly.
- karthikb 7y ago
  Unless you misjudge how long you press. It’s not foolproof. And even a short blast can be heard a block away indoors.

jonaswouters 7y ago

here is a DIY video with 2 more gentle sound options. It should be standard in cars imho. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv8wqnk_TsA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv8wqnk_TsA

rkangel 7y ago

My girlfriend (who drives a normal petrol car) has always wanted an 'excuse me' horn. Something politer than honking that you can use to remind people you exist.