Audi Gives Silent Electric Car Synthetic Sound

itwbennett writes "Audi's electric cars are quiet, maybe too quiet, which is why Audi spent 3 years creating replicated engine noise for its electric car models. We're so conditioned to the noise of an engine revving that a driver behind the wheel of a too-quiet car may not realize how fast he's driving, and a pedestrian relying on auditory clues may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, says Ralf Kunkel, Head of Audi Acoustics." Nissan's been on this for years (as has Honda); one day, you may only get to choose which noise your car makes, rather than whether it does.

Comments

Re:I take it

[Dishevel]

I really do not want to point this out but...
At what point do we stop designing the world for the deaf and the blind.
Really.
Blind people should not be on the road.
Stupid people should not be warned about hair dryers and showers.
Uncoordinated people ordering hot coffee might get burned.
Can we please stop designing to the lowest common denominator?