Lecky Cars, silent killers v unbearable racket!

[R1Geezer]

http://tinyurl.com/373e6zt
Ok well I'm all in favour of the idea that some sort of noise be emitted by electric cars but I'm worried that each maker will go their own way and every street in Britain will become a cocophany of unbearable racket! I mean if they can emulate the sound a normal car makes great but I just know these are going to sound like sirens of some sort and disturb peace and quiet everywhere. I'm I worrying unduly?

[rojash]

"I'm I worrying unduly?"
Probably - there's bound to be legislation governing the volume, and presumably some sort of certification system as part of the approval process for a new vehicle.

[ChuckFickens]

I can't see the point.

The majority of noise you hear from modern cars as they approach or drive past is road and wind noise, not engine noise (well other than the boy racers cars with the big boy exhausts)

[Whickerman]

I can just hear it now...beep beep beep...

Actually I wouldn't worry. Electric cars are a fad and will never catch on. The future is Hydrogen!

[12thPaladin]

I remember reading about this elsewhere, they're only going to emit a noise when travelling below 20mph. Any faster than that and you'll hear the tyre noise anyway.