摘要: |
For more than a century now, people have been getting used to what it sounds like living around machines powered by explosions. The soundscapes of our roads, parking lots, communities and cities are filled with the familiar noises from engines and exhaust pipes. Of all the changes we'll experience as we transition to more electric and hybrid vehicles over the coming decades, this is currently one of the most underrated: what will this new world sound like? Automakers have been determining that over the past several years in response to new laws and regulations over the minimum amount of sound that hybrid and electric vehicles must produce. In the United States, a relatively little-known law called the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 required the creation of these new standards, which led to the issuance of the "Quiet Car" standard in 2016, or FMVSS 141. After a slight delay due to COVID, manufacturers needed to have all new vehicles meet the rules by the end of February 2021. |