ELVIN (Electric Vehicle with Interactive Noise)

A little green van called ELVIN is whizzing around the University of Warwick as part of a major research project aimed at tackling the safety issues linked to the lack of sound from electric vehicles. ELVIN will be able to emit many different sounds aimed at alerting pedestrians and other road users that he is nearby. People who hear ELVIN's sounds will be asked to give their opinions on a range of issues including whether they are suitable as a warning or whether they are just annoying.
The research fits well with the University of Warwick's wish to expand its own campus electric vehicle fleet and a desire to learn as much from their use as possible, including which sounds are most suitable.

Following this pilot study there will be a broader and longer-term period of study and research using this vehicle alongside a range of other vehicles, and WMG's existing interactive simulation facilities for vehicle and environmental sound evaluation.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• WMG
• ELVIN
• Electric Vehicle
• ecofriendly
• electric car

[tmcthree]

Its a shame that there is this movement to introduce noise to electric vehicles.

One of the most attractive things about the electric car is that its quiet.

[mhelton235]

can the pedestrian can still hear the noise if you your car is running 80-100km/s??

is that mean the car can run fast any where just by having a annoying noise??

[katheryncruz24]

Whoa!

[Dylanjraub]

AUGH THE STEREO IS FLIPPED!

[Regenerit]

But you admit that it is possible for it to kill someone, correct? There is a reason for the term "silent killer". In terms of zoology, a quiet predator is more likely to catch its prey if the prey is unable to detect it and therefore is caught off gaurd and with less running distance, time to put up defenses, etc. How much more dangerous quieter vehicles are to pedestrians is a good question that I would like to know. But, as doctors say: prevention is always the best medicine.

[tmcthree]

@Regenerit Oh and by the way, I go to Warwick university, and I've seen the car driving around the campus, and it never has the noise on. (And it hasn't killed anyone yet)

[tmcthree]

@Regenerit Yeah, if only the driver could somehow stop the vehicle.

[Regenerit]

@tmcthree Any car can cause an accident. In reference to how quiet electric cars are, they being quiet enough to pass by you without noticing them until you seem them is an issue. Gasoline or diesel engine cars will also be seen but also audible, making them in this regard, safter than a electric car.

[tmcthree]

@Regenerit Well how will adding sound to electric cars help, given as you say yourself, that normal cars have "so many accidents" accidents

[Regenerit]

@tmcthree We already invented something like that... but... that system can only make the car go so slow or even stop ever so fast. Why else do we have so many accidents? Just because a vehicle has breaks doesnt mean it wont hurt anyone.

[tmcthree]

@Regenerit wow yeah I never thought of that. Maybe we could introduce some sort of system that would give the driver the ability to stop the car before it did hit people. Maybe another peddle, other than the one the driver currently uses to make the car go faster, we could also give him a peddle to make the car go slower or even stop.