Brigade Electronics: Electric vehicles MUST be fitted with an environmentally-friendly sounder
Submitted by Brigade Electronics on 2 July, 2010 - 11:22
What if zero emission cars became too quiet
Brigade will demonstrate an electric (hybrid) Prius fitted with a broadband sounder to show how a sound can alert of danger without causing a noise nuisance. The company are calling for sounders to be fitted to prevent fatalities.
‘pedestrians are twice as likely to be struck by a slow moving electric vehicle.’- US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System
Electric vehicles are silent at low speeds. When fitted with low rolling-resistance tyres driving on a smooth road they may not be audible until they reach up to 20mph. The solution, a broadband sounder, is the safest and least noisy answer. Safest because, uniquely, broadband sound is instantly locatable by the listener who will always know from which direction the car is approaching. Traditional strident narrow frequency-band “tonal” horns, on the other hand, both irritate and confuse the listener as to which direction the car is approaching. Less noisy because broadband sound is like a waterfall or rustling leaves, easy on the ear and more audible for fewer decibels than a tonal horn. Developed by Brigade this unique technology is highly commended by the Noise Abatement Society.
