Noise-emitting devices will be required to be fitted to all new EVs sold from July onwards, in an effort to improve pedestrian safety.
New EU legislation will require any four-wheeled electric and hybrid vehicles to have an ‘Acoustic Vehicle Alert System’ (AVAS) as of July 1. In the words of EU Regulation on the Sound Level of Motor Vehicles and EU Requirement ECE R138, this system must function at speeds up to 20km/h (12mph) and have a minimum sound level of 56dB.
Further still, the sounds from these systems will be required to be “a continuous one providing the vehicle driving behaviour to other road users and pedestrians”. In other words, fluctuate depending on acceleration or braking of the vehicle.
Some manufacturers already utilise the systems on their car, including Jaguar with its I-Pace SUV and Kia with the Niro PHEV.
The exciting news here is there’s no set type of audio — meaning manufacturers could be very creative. Will we be hearing little electric city cars replicating twin-turbocharged six-cylinder sounds or spaceships? Probably not, but we can dream…