AS rider of the first full-electric scooter in KZN, I soon discovered if people can’t hear your scooter, they also don’t see you or your scooter.
Which is why several cities around the world are now prescribing that the quietly buzzing but fast-moving electric vehicles must have some form of warning sound.
German company SoundRacer has surveyed over 400 people in North America and Europe to find out what sound they wanted on their electric car, bike or even forklift. Almost 50% asked for a petrol engine sound and 20% specifically asked for the roar of V8 engine.
SoundRacer said a realistic engine sound has the best warning effect on pedestrians. They also fitted an electric fork lift with the noise of a big diesel engine, which had staff moving out of the way instead of stepping into the operator’s path.
The company is now selling a plug and play unit for electric vehicles that comes pre-loaded with six car sounds: a Shelby V8; a Lamborghini V10; a Ferrari V12; a Lexus LFA V10; a Suzuki GSX and a Classic American V-Twin Harley Davidson.
The evee-operator can switch between any of the six sounds with the click of a button.
SoundRacer AB has sold 150 000 units during the past seven years and said its sound system can be installed in even the smallest electric vehicles.
