Autoblog

Audi developing powertrain sound of the future for R8 e-tron

John Neff — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Audi, Electric

Audi knows sound, and it wants its upcoming plug-in cars to have as distinctive a grumble as possible, just like its fossil-fuel-burning brethren. That's why Audi engineers are working on "new sound signatures" for future e-tron models. You can tell how seriously Audi is taking this by the way it references the sounds a car makes to music and "emotional sound structures" in the press release below.

The stated reason for all this e-sound work is so pedestrians will be able to hear the near-silent EVs, but you could just use any old beep to meet that requirement. Audi wants something a bit more refined, to stand out from the space-y blips that the Nissan Leaf puts out or the Volkswagen E-Golf's baby Wookiee growl.

Scroll down to see a video of the Audi e-sound in progress. In its current form, the sound changes based on what the e-tron is doing. It comes out of a speaker blasting up to 40 watts that is attached to the bottom of the car.

Of course, the question from some blind-advocacy groups is whether having each EV make its own sound is reasonable, or if there should be one "EV sound" that all battery-powered cars are required to emit to tell those with limited sight "a car is nearby." In the U.S., the laws governing EV sounds are not yet set, but some sort of low-speed warning requirement seems to be coming.

Continue reading Audi developing powertrain sound of the future for R8 e-tron

Audi developing powertrain sound of the future for R8 e-tron originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delay due to modifications of virtual engine sound

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

In mid-October, Hyundai announced that its 2011 Sonata Hybrid would be eligible for a $1,300 tax credit. The electrified midsize sedan was scheduled to hit dealerships in late 2010 and the first 60,000 buyers in line to plop down some cash for the Sonata Hybrid would've pocketed that credit. However, there was a hitch: the Sonata Hybrid was delayed, dashing any chance of snagging the $1,300 credit.

What caused the delay? Well, according to Hyundai chief executive officer John Krafcik, a last-minute modification to the vehicle's "virtual engine sound" system, made "amazingly late in the process" was the culprit. The automaker initially developed the Sonata Hybrid with a feature that would allow drivers to disable the vehicle's pedestrian warning system, but after the Senate and House voted to approve a measure requiring hybrids and plug-in vehicles to automatically emit audible sounds at low speeds, Hyundai's manual disable functionality had to be axed.

According to Green Car Reports, that modification required changes to the vehicle's wiring harnesses, user-interface software and owner's manual, which caused the lengthy delay. Hyundai delivered the first 2011 Sonata Hybrid in January.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Second Drive

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Green Car Reports]

Report: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delay due to modifications of virtual engine sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Senate unanimously rules in favor of noisy hybrids, electric cars

Autoblog Staff — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Safety, Electric

Regardless of whether or not there's an actual need for pedestrian warning systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, the U.S. Senate has voted unanimously to approve a measure that would make the noise-adding setup standard on all vehicles that can operate - even if just momentarily - without the burble of an engine.

The measure, called the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 and backed by Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, aims to establish standards for alerting pedestrians of the possible danger of an approaching vehicle that moves in near silence. With the Senate voting in favor of the bill, it will now head off to the House of Representatives, where it's expected to pass with ease.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Senate unanimously rules in favor of noisy hybrids, electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments