The new electric and electrified cars, like the Tesla of Elon Musk and all the other EVs and plug-in hybrids on the market, are famous for their extreme quietness. These cars are too silent according to the EU, thus risking being dangerous.
Electric vehicles will have to make noise due to legal obligations. The new protagonists of the city traffic - electric or hybrid cars - will, in fact, have to install a system called "AVAS (Audible Vehicle Alert System)" from 1 July 2019 which reproduces the sound of a traditional engine. This was decided by the European Union, which hopes to increase the safety of pedestrians, who may not notice a vehicle that is too quiet as they cross the road.
Each producer will be able to choose a personalized sound, as long as you remember that of a traditional engine, even Tesla is working on an AVAS for his Model 3, on which a speaker has appeared in the last few months under the hood.
The audible warning device will emit a pitch of an intensity that can vary from 56 to 75 decibels (a traditional car emits an average of about 75 decibels) and it will not be possible to deactivate it.
For hybrid and electric cars already in circulation that do not have the AVAS system, EU rules allow time until 2021 to comply with the legislation.
The MINI Cooper has always been a car for the city. Its compact size, agile handling, and cheeky personality make it a perfect companion for urban adventures. But what if you could have all that plus zero emissions, instant torque, and a… Continue reading
Renault has started sales of a new generation of the all-electric Zoe 52kWh hatchback. Europeans will be the first to order their electric car at a price starting from € 20,000 (in Germany, excluding the cost of renting a battery). But they… Continue reading
The Italian startup XEV has created a tiny, low-cost electric vehicle designed specifically for city driving: XEV Yoyo. The first copies of the Yoyo model is presently manufactured in Shanghai, China, and large-scale manufacturing will… Continue reading
The new Opel Rocks-e is entirely electric, completely different - and now absolutely unique for BVB supporters. Opel's first SUM ("Sustainable Urban Mobility") will be available as an Opel Rocks-e 09 limited special edition at the start… Continue reading
