- The federal government is poised to issue rules for electric vehicle sounds, prompting Ford to do some Facebook polling for its 2012 Ford Focus Electric.
- Consumers are advising Ford to make the Focus Electric "sound like a car" or even a "Ferrari on steroids."
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also asking for similar reaction to proposed quiet vehicle sounds on its Web site.
WASHINGTON — The federal government is poised to issue rules for electric vehicle sounds, prompting Ford to do some Facebook polling for its 2012 Ford Focus Electric.
Consumers are being asked to rate four different kinds of sounds for the Focus Electric. While no conclusions have been drawn thus far, many seem to favor the "B" choice, saying it "sounds most like a car." One person commented that he didn't like any of the choices.
"None of the above!" he wrote. "At least make it sound like a car and offer several choices like a Mustang GT, a regular Focus or an RS Focus Rally car. Also, make them selectable through the Sync system."
Another advised Ford to make the Focus Electric sound like a "Ferrari on steroids."
Ford is also asking consumers to pick words that describe their favorite sounds. The list of words include: futuristic, precise, responsive, powerful, high-tech, quiet, smooth, refined, innovative and sporty."
On a more serious note, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also asking for similar reaction to proposed quiet vehicle sounds at 6 mph on its Web site.
Federal regulators announced on Thursday that they are moving closer to choosing a standard sound or sounds for electric and hybrid vehicles. The 2010 Pedestrian Safety Act mandates that such vehicles be equipped with a safety sound system to alert visually impaired pedestrians of their presence.
Federal documentation indicates that such a system would have a uniform sound — not a set of sounds that consumers could pick and choose at will.
"Each vehicle of the same make and model must emit the same alert sound or set of sounds," according to documentation posted on the NHTSA Web site. "The standard is required to prohibit manufacturers from providing anyone, other than the manufacturer or dealers, with a device designed to disable, alter, replace or modify the alert sound or set of sounds emitted from the vehicle."
Inside Line says: What's your solution for solving the "sounds of silence" problem in electric vehicles?
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car_battery says:
12:38 AM, 08/16/2011
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mklrivowner says:
05:33 AM, 07/11/2011
If I had a facebook, I would vote for whatever sounds like the Jetson's car, except on a lower pitch.
And didn't Chevy already do a big study on the sounds an electric car might make from the POV of the blind (the one's who are going to be most affected)?
c_smith1146 says:
09:11 PM, 07/10/2011
I got an idea, lets stick our credit cards in the spokes of our rims. An equally effective way to waste money.
lolxd says:
05:51 AM, 07/09/2011
How about that V8 sound Top Gear used on that challenge with the Daihatsu Terrios.
Try looking up the video on YouTube.
patrickw says:
12:05 AM, 07/09/2011
I'm thinking that Foci built in Mexico should play the "Mexican Hat Dance" unless they are police cars, in which case "Ride of the Valkyries" might be more appropriate. :-)
But seriously, I like the idea of user-selectable sounds. Maybe pre-vetted to be certain they both a) function as an audible warning that a vehicle is approaching and b) don't scare the daylights out of people. The cynic in me, however, projects that the most attractive sounds (think Maserati 4.2 L or air-cooled Porsche 2.4 L) will only be available with $$$ premium packages.
wjtinatl says:
05:35 PM, 07/08/2011
My i-phone has a cool "Duck Quack" sound available as a ring-tone. Who wouldn't turn around thinking a duck was coming up behind them? Ford... please don't over think this. Buy the same 25 cent sound card Apple uses, pipe it through a cheap speaker and let the customer decide what their car should sound like!
90in55 says:
01:25 PM, 07/08/2011
Make it sound like Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine.
steve_ says:
11:40 AM, 07/08/2011
I like the clip clops that some company had available. A playing card in a bicycle spoke sound would work too.
Not looking forward to it though. Like hiking with paranoid campers, those bear bells will drive you crazy in a short time.
bengal3200 says:
10:21 AM, 07/08/2011
I say make it sound like a real car. Not a Mustang GT or a Ferrari, but a Focus. Anything else is just gonna be silly and you'll know it's fake. That's like putting a huge Fast & Furious decal on your car, it's silly. I like the idea in the movie The Dilemma.
stuntman_mike says:
10:05 AM, 07/08/2011
I haven't heard any of the four suggested sounds yet, but the answer to me is simple: License / buy the sound of George Jetson's car from Cartoon Network.