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03/10/2011
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
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I recently penned a piece on electric cars and the fact that they are beautifully quiet in operation. So quiet that pedestrians may not hear them coming and walk in front of them without realising they’re there.
This has resulted in calls for artificial sounds to be put out by EVs (Electric Vehicles) to warn pedestrians of their approach. I disagreed with this, arguing that our streets are already unpleasantly noisy and having more and more electric cars was a golden opportunity to improve the lifestyle of all.
This has led to protestations from people pointing out that blind pedestrians rely on the sound of a vehicle to know if it’s safe to cross the road. And others who say that cyclists also like to be able to hear vehicles coming from behind.
I’m acutely aware of the needs of blind pedestrians as I have very poor eyesight myself, eyesight which is fortunately corrected by glasses so I’m, thankfully, fine to drive.
I frequently ride a bike so am also conscious of how it feels to have a vehicle squeeze past me that I didn’t realise was there. Mirrors help, but the sound of an approaching vehicle is certainly useful.
It was difficult for me to argue that blind people make up only a tiny percentage of pedestrians and that everyone else shouldn't have to suffer from extra noise just to look after them. Yet, a case could have been put for the good of the majority at the expense of a minority, but…
My latest article on sounds from electric vehicle was prompted by the fact that Lotus, the British engineering company, had come up with a system for electric vehicles that produced sounds only when the car could sense that pedestrians were ahead and on a potential collision course.
This sounded like a good idea, but the trouble was that the EV was likely to be emitting sounds all the time it was in busy areas, which somewhat defeated the purpose.
Then a reader, Michael from Western Australia came up with a brilliant suggestion; why not have the EV emit an electronic signal that was inaudible, but which sent a message to a receiver carried by a pedestrian, that either put out a quiet noise, or vibrated to alert them to the presence of a silent vehicle?
In fact, this receiver could be used by anyone who wanted one, not just by blind or poorly sighted people. They could even be used by cyclists. Users could chose from a variety of ways of carrying them; as bracelets, necklaces, or simply put in a pocket or handbag.
The simplest solutions are often the best and Michael rightly points out that the makers of EVs would gladly include this feature to avoid them getting a bad name if some pedestrians do get run over by electric cars.
ewan@marque.com.au |
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