Comments for Making Hybrids Go Vroom at http://ecogeek.org , comment 1 to 18 out of 18 comments http://ecogeek.org Mon, 20 May 2013 21:09:44 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-42424 I can gather that some of the folks reading this might be offended by the idea of this happening, but from my own experience with electric powered vehicles, this is actually a sound issue to put into consideration. No pun intended. I'm even surprised that so many readers would have an issue with a bill that they have nothing to loose, or gain from seeing enacted. I've used electric powered vehicles from little golf carts to warehouse forklifts and they're pretty silent running. I've usually had to honk the horn to make sure people are aware that I'm there, if they're not paying attention. If commercial electric cars are as silent running as an electric forklift, then children, seniors and blind pedestrians will inadvertently be put at risk. We've got two options in this situation, lower speed limits on pedestrian accessible streets to 20 mph, or equip electric vehicles with a way to automatically alert folks to their presence. As things stand, equipping the car to make a little less noise then an internal combustion vehicle is just the more expedient way of solving the problem. - CA3 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:26:11 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17636 We should put bright blinking lights on cars for the deaf? (or are those kept off for the epileptics?) - Tim Sexton Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:48:35 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17601 The whole premise here is completely wrong. With respect to engine noise, all modern sedans are virtually silent except when they are starting the engine or strongly accelerating. Regardless of the type of vehicle, it's the driver's responsibility to yield right of way to pedestrians. Engine noise has nothing to do to it. - Tom Saxton Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:40:41 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17599 I think they should turn this around. Make the blind person wear a necklace that receives a wireless transmission from the hybrid/EVs. When a hybrid/EV is near, their necklace will beep or vibrate; they could even make the beeping more frequent as the car draws nearer to the person. - jh Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:47:23 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17590 You people just don't get it do you? The days of being able to bully your way through a city street by encasing yourself in metal and making engine noises are over! Engine-like or not the spectacle of grown people making artificial noises to clear the way will be pure entertainment and no one will take you seriously. The end of the ICE will herald a profound change in how we get around town. Adapt and enjoy. - dolores Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:41:45 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17587 It doesn't have to make the sound of an old-style car. Perhaps it could sound like something more pleasant. - hey Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:23:42 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17578 How can anyone claim fully intelligence and then read the article and somehow derive that blind = hard of hearing? - Jacob Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:13:55 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17567 So... We should look both ways before stepping out where there may be cars? I think I learned that somewhere once.... - Codesuidae Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:34:59 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17561 I had a firsthand experience with a silent Prius in a parking lot. I was walking past some behemoth SUV which blocked my view of the corridor I was about to walk across, when I suddenly saw a Prius coming down the line, extremely close to me, requiring a hard stop on my part. I heard [i]nothing[/i] from the car before I saw it. It was a startling experience, and it is now easy for me to see how just a few tweaks to that situation could result in severe injury (say, the Prius driver going a bit faster, and being inattentive, and the pedestrian not looking in the right direction in time). So I welcome this kind of change -- if it's done right. The sound shouldn't be annoying, or too loud. And shutting it off a higher speeds also makes perfect sense. - Doug Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:46:21 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17560 In all electric mode a prius sounds like a golf cart. - odograph Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:41:30 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17559 Why do people freak out at very small, but new, risks? Has anyone actually been hurt by a Prius, or does it only seem new and scary. Q1: what is the injury ratio between drunk drivers and prius drivers? Q2: why do we concentrate on the prius rather than universal alcohol sensors? ..... because we are a bunch of monkeys. - odograph Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:38:59 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17557 If this happens I want to be able to change the noise that my car makes so it sounds like the Jetsons flying car. - Nate Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:32:40 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17554 I live next to a highway. Trust me, it's not the engines that keep me awake at night. The tires however... This is just plain silly, I know plenty of high-end cars whose engines are practically inaudible at the below 50kmh (30 mph) speeds. Nobody ever got them to fit speakers. The same applies to anyone driving downhill. Many people will idle their engine while doing that, which means that the tire-noise will obliterate any engine-noise that might escape at that point. - Robbert Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:37:57 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17552 Laughable. So your hybrid doesn't make enough noise to scare those pedestrians and cyclists out of your way - deal with it! - by taking full responsibility for the velocity of that hunk of junk. Don't expect to be able to take priority by force anymore. In fact I think I'll fit one of these gizmos to my bike, or my shopping trolley. - dolores Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:12:28 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17550 That's pretty ridiculous. We have an opportunity to rid the world of some of machine noise we create and now people are going to complain about it? That's stupid. I don't mean to be insensitive, but forcing all hybrids to integrate under-hood speakers with annoying engine noises seems like overkill to me. Not just overkill, but idiotic. - Josh Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:01:31 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17549 We did a story on this topic. Check it out here: http://zaproot.com/2008/06/blind-hit-with-hybrid-zaproot-035/ Damien ZapRoot Producer http://zaproot.com/ - Damien Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:37:47 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17548 First, adding noise pollution to already loud streets is dumb. Second, if your hard of hearing and walking near a road you probably should have someone with you. Third, if you have a disability don't put the burden on someone else. It's your responsibility and someone shouldn't have raise the cost of the car because of your responsibility. Sorry to sound cold, but that is what needs to be said. - JIm Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:26:06 +0100 http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/1982#comment-17547 First, the streets are loud enough as it is and they want to ADD noise pollution? Second, just because someone is hard of hearing doesn't mean they should raise the sound levels of everything and make ME hard of hearing. If you hard of hearing, you probably should be walking with someone else. If I was hard of hearing, I would still think the same way, no different. Plus adding cost of the car to me because of your disablity? If you have a disability, deal with it. Don't put your responsibility on someone else. Sorry to sound cold, but that is what needs to be said. - JIm Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:22:18 +0100