Since they hit the market, electric cars and hybrids have had trouble really finding their audience. Everyone loves to pay less on gas, but questions of safety and whether it is really better for the environment have plagued its journey into mainstream America. A new, less obvious problem has recent come to light as more drivers are choosing hybrid and electric cars.
Federal safety regulators are concerned that hybrid and electric cars are simply too quiet. Most cars make enough noise to alert pedestrians, cyclists, or visually impaired persons, but these hybrids and electric cars are so quiet that pedestrians are sometimes unaware of their presence.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, is asking automakers to add sound systems to their hybrid and electric vehicles. The sound system, which will emit warning sounds to pedestrians, is expected to cost an additional $30 to automakers but will have a minimal effect on the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. According to David Strickland, the NHTSA’s Administrator, automakers would be able to choose a variety of sounds depending on the make and model.
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