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The Washington – and the age of hybrid silence is about to expire.
Cars powered by gas and electricity, driven by electric motors at low speeds, are known to ride on the calm and the large distances. But silence is not always golden.
Some researchers and safety groups say that the quiet operation – “creep hybrid” – could pose a threat to unsuspecting passers-by and the blind who use sound cues.
Advocates for the blind and sought artificially add noise in the hybrid for several years, concerned that the projected growth for sales of hybrids can lead to more deaths and injuries for pedestrians. Hybrids represent about 2 percent of new car sales each year, but it is expected that the auto companies to increase production early in the stricter standards for fuel efficiency of this decade.
“This is an example of a lot of a good thing,” said John Barry, executive director of strategic initiatives with the National Federation of the Blind. “I got the car quieter, and that was good. Suddenly they have to remain calm so that it added an element of danger.”
The government said at the auto safety agency in a research report last year that hybrid cars are twice as likely to be part of the pedestrian accidents at low speeds compared to cars with conventional engines. The study examined by the National Directorate of Traffic Safety in circumstances in which vehicles were slowing down or a stop, and to support or entering or leaving a parking space.
More than 4300 infantry in 2008, according to the latest available data. The government search of the dangers which threaten the safety and electric hybrids that can serve as a pedestrian, especially for the blind, side by side with older children, for vehicles traveling at 20 miles per hour or less. When a car going more quickly, and friction between tire and road surface makes the car louder.
Congress is paying attention to warnings and added a sound performance requirements for hybrid and electric cars of the draft law the safety of cars that are being considered after Toyota massive recalls. Can be seen in the changes of Representatives this summer and the car companies are likely to have the votes are ready to go after three years of release from the rules of a new government.
Helped in the development of the auto industry in Congress, the proposal is moving forward with the new synthetic voices that will be emitted from electric cars and hybrid models of the future.
Has produced a Nissan Motor Corp voices distinct fiber, the electric car expected to go for sale this year, when the vehicle accelerates or moves in the opposite direction. When life speeds up to 20 miles per hour, it automatically uses the soft voice of Buzz that changes pitch as the car accelerated. When life reserve, and the bell will ring intermittently to warn those nearby.
Japanese automakers, consult with psychologists, audio and Hollywood sound designers to find a tone that handles drivers and pedestrians and the community.
“The more issues and it was kind of like peeling an onion to return, the more we work, it came up, and more balance now,” said Andy Christensen, Director with the Nissan North American Technical Center near Detroit. April plans to use the votes on the Infiniti M35 hybrid to be released in 2012.
General Motors Corp. wants to grade more subtle in the Chevrolet Volt that have chosen to do so will allow to alert the driver of the century, warns a passer-by unknowing.
“We did not want to blast, which occurred in the century and figuratively slap them in the nose of the people,” said Doug Moore, an engineer with the performance of the Volt for the project. “We just want to take advantage of them on the shoulder and says: Hey I’m here.”
Other car manufacturers is hard at work, too.
Toyota Motor Corp., which makes the best-selling Prius hybrid, and is studying artificial voices for hybrids are paid when the car of electric vehicles, which speeds are low. Ford Motor Co. is working to bring the voices of State for hybrid and electric in the future, including its focus electric car, which is expected in 2011, and the next generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid car planned for 2012.
Said Nancy Gioia, director of Ford to electrify the world, and car companies should consider unifying tones of hybrid and electric in the future to avoid a cacophony of confusion in the streets.
“It can not be like mobile phones where we chose all the sound of our own, we do not care about everyone else but our own,” said Joya.
Questioned by some advocates for green car on the need to additional tones and pointed out that the requirement could add more noise to neighborhoods. Paul Scott, vice president Plug in America, and said votes could help under certain conditions, but drivers should be right in the operation of tones.
“After hearing how good the sound Lev April, and perhaps it would be a minor irritant for us, but I think people will tire of it eventually and look for ways to disable the noise,” Scott said in an e-mail from Japan, where he was test-driving a car .
Li said Bloomberg, who is the founder of the clearing-house pollution, noise, and the reduction of noise from the sound of cars, such as trucks, buses and motorcycles, would increase the ability of pedestrians to detect the sound. Add to the sounds hybrid, but that simply promoting noise pollution and make it more difficult to listen to the way the individual in traffic.