It's a Horse! It's an Electric Car! It May be the Last Sound You'll Ever Hear!

Filed in archive Electric Cars on December 5, 2007

The automobile as you, dear viewer, already know, was originally referred to as a "horseless carriage." The electric car, as you are also aware, was once more popular than cars with internal combustion engines because it didn't need a hand crank to start and was clean and quiet. Such cars are certain to make a comeback when science develops a suitable battery or when hydrogen fuel cells (that produce electrical power) are economically practical. Nevertheless a serious problem exists with electric cars that so far has been ignored. Pedestrians can't hear them coming! The average automobile generates more noise than you might think, even with today's serious mufflers. Grunts, squeaks and rattles from under-the-hood, unnoticed inside the vehicle, can be heard outside. Tires create a considerable amount of rumble (try opening a window on a crowded expressway if you doubt this) even at slow speeds. Many of these sounds are subtle but when combined can create a warning signal for those of us on foot.

Electric cars, in need of miminal rolling resistance, generally have narrower tires with quiet treads. Even a hybrid can sneak up on you if you're not careful! Now an Italian company has come up with a solution whereby its electric cars simulate the sound of horses hooves clattering on the pavement like an old Sherlock Holmes movie. Yoshio Takaoka, together with Italy's Start Lab SAP, has developed the Girasole,a functional electric car that includes "horse hoof" sound effects; it reaches 41 mph (faster than the average commute and all you need for city driving) and travels up to 80 miles on a full battery. While this may seem an elegant solution, I'm concerned that it may not succeed because so few city dwellers have ever heard the sound of horses, except on TV. Seeking a sound for electric cars that attracts attention but doesn't irritate, what would you recommend?