Almost every car manufacturer has plans for or has already built a hybrid or electric vehicle. GM’s Volt and Nissan’s Leaf will soon be released to the general public followed by the release of many others.
While the electric vehicle is good for the environment, it seems that it is not necessarily good for pedestrians. In a study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was found that hybrid vehicles are twice as likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists than other vehicles. Some groups, including advocates for the deaf, blind, children and the elderly, say pedestrians fail to notice approaching electric vehicles because they are just too quiet.
Automobile manufacturers are coming back with a solution. Car makers such as Nissan and Toyota are researching sound as silent models continue to enter the auto marketplace. But, instead of simply replicating the sound of a gasoline-powered engine, car makers are consulting musicians to invent something new. The sound system, which could become mandatory on all hybrid and electric vehicles, would automatically activate when the car starts, and shut off when the vehicle reaches 12 miles per hour. The driver may turned off the sound with a switch but it will automatically go on every time the car starts.
