Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS)
External alert/warning sounds
What type of sound has the best warning effect? A realistic engine sound is immediately recognized as coming from a motor vehicle while other electronic sounds can be mistaken and not be notised as a possible danger. The EU AVAS legislation says: ”The sound shall be easily indicative of vehicle behaviour and should sound similar to the sound of a vehicle of the same category equipped with an internal combustion engine”
What sound do people prefer? This is a new question that the automotive industry must investigate when they develop electric cars. The survey of more than 400 people in North America and Europe found most people favoring a ”traditional engine sound” (almost 50%) or a V-8 engine sound” (20%).
Traditional engine sounds are also less likely to be disturbing compared to adding new types of synthetic sounds into the traffic environment.
The sound control software includes a function to mute the warning sound above a specific vehicle speed, EU level is 20 km/h, US is 18 mph/29 km/h. This function is one of 30 parameters that can be set when generating the sound files with the Windows software that is included with the sound module.
With the software, customers can also make their own unique sounds from recordings or from sound files produced using software like Audacity.
Interesting article on the subject: What Noise Does the Electric Car Make? Don Norman, cognitive science professor
Sounds can be developed in cooperation with customer to achieve a unique sound profile for each vehicle. In the process our associated consultants will adapt the sounds to the use as warning sounds following guidelines and requirements from the authorities in the relevant markets.
Entertainment engine sound
Although the silence of electric vehicles is highly appreciated by most drivers, many drivers actually appreciate the exciting sound of a powerful combustion engine when driving. SoundRacer can make electric vehicles more attractive to them by providing exciting super sports car engine sounds for electric cars and equally awesome motorcycle sound for electric motorcycles and scooters. Electric gokarts, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles NEVs, cars converted to electric, private built electric cars and golf karts are other vehicles that can get an improved driving experience with EVEESS™.
8 sounds are included with each EVSMA-1 sound module.
Car sounds: Standard 4-cylinder, big diesel truck engine, Shelby Mustang V8, Lamborghini V10, Ferrari V12, Lexus LFA V10.
Motorcycle sounds Suzuki GSX and Classic American V-Twin.
Sound files are delivered on a MicroSD memory card with each sound module. With a click on a connected button the next sound is loaded in a few seconds.
Engine sound samples with sound fade out over a certain speed can be heard here: 4 cylinder diesel truck
The following videos show sounds used in the SoundRacer products, the same sounds are used in the EV sound modules.
We recommend to use good pc speakers or headphones when listening to the videos in order to get the right impression.
Lamborghini V10 and at 2:28 Shelby V8 engine sound
Lexus LFA V10 engine sound
Ferrari V12 engine sound
Classic V‐Twin motorcycle SoundRacer prototype tested in a SAAB 9-5 NG BioPower
Many more videos can be found on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=soundracer
SoundRacer can supply other types of sounds and can also arrange professional recordings of vehicles.
With the included Windows software it is also possible to generate SoundRacer sound files from customers own recordings.