[Quietcars] What should Ford's new Focus EV sound like?, Autoblog Green, June 23, 2011

Tue Jul 12 23:55:16 UTC 2011

Dave, when I first heard of legislation that was trying to be penned
regarding hybrids, I felt that way.  I( know that many people, including
guide dog schools, and blindness orgs, have fought for collective benefit to
imposing noise(s) to allow hybrids to be heard by all, when some could not
see them.  

Everyone benefits from the noise legislation, as you well know.  However,
the industry has to put their media spin on this effort to make the public
feel particularly good or particularly bad about it.  

All I have read about thus far, has been the very acceptable levels of noise
that come from the Nissan product, and the 
gM effort has virtually fallen flat, due to the ability of the driver to
turn off the sound, or that the car doesn't emit a sound in situations where
it's truly needed.

Tesla, and other manufacturers have gotten on board and have done a great
job promoting their efforts.  
Volvo promotes safety, and as such, has pedestrian avoidance hardware and
software on several models.  Other manufacturers have options with cameras,
antilock braking, etc., which all work well, but there hasn't been an across
the board definition of what noise can be agreed upon so that in 2014,these
standards can be placed in cars across the board.

Thanks to all who have worked tirelessly to promote this awareness effort on
this and other lists, and many thanks to those dog guide schools who have
purchased a hybrid so that they can train their dogs and then their students
in hybrid awareness. I would urge those of you who are cane travelers to
inquire of a friend or through any means possible, even through your local
dvr service provider or private vendor, as to whether a hybrid can be seen
so that you can become familiar with one if you are not already.   
The sounds that hybrid manufacturers or sound developers have come up with
have ranged from what sounds have been featured here on the Focus to
speakers playing various engine revs, to squawks, to chirps, to beeps, none
of them has really captured the real flavor of a car that is silent that is
supposed to be making real car noises.  

Bob 
W, what have you found in doing your research, because this 
Ford effort sounds a bit lame, though I think that links A and C would be
suitable though not real world choices!
Mike T

Stupidity isn't a handicap...Park elsewhere!!!

Mike Townsend and Seeing Eye dog Brent
Dunellen, New Jersey  08812
emails:  mrtownsend at optonline.net; 
michael.townsend54 at gmail.com
Home Phone:  732  200-5643
Cellular:  732  718-9480

-----Original Message-----
From: quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 6:56 PM
To: Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] What should Ford's new Focus EV sound like?,
Autoblog Green, June 23, 2011

I think we should contact these folks to ask them to change their wording.
They make it sound like it is "our fault" Ford is doing this -- our being
the blind.  It is for the protection of all pedestrians, bike riders etc.

Dave

p.s.  I thought they all sounded terrible!

At 05:16 PM 7/12/2011, you wrote:

>Try the links at the end of the below article!
>
>
>
>Link:
>
>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/what-should-fords-new-focus-ev-sou
>nd-like-w-poll/
>
>
>
>Text:
>
>What should Ford's new Focus EV sound like?
>
>by Autoblog Staff (RSS feed) on Jun 23rd 2011 at 2:57PM
>
>
>
>Ford will soon roll-out its all-new Focus EV, and the silent electric 
>sedan will be available in 14 select markets. Before the car makes it 
>that far, however, Ford could be changing that "silent"
>part. The automaker has posted a few soundbites on its Facebook page, 
>with the hopes of gauging market opinion of what the electric Focus 
>should sound like.
>
>
>
>We won't make you head to Facebook to hear the four sounds that Ford 
>has in mind. We WILL, however, make you click past the jump, and if you 
>have a moment, click on your favorite choice in the poll below.
>
>
>
>And before you say Ford should leave the Focus EV as quiet as possible, 
>remember that the powers-that-be in Washington have been pushing a bill 
>that would force automakers to make their EVs a bit noisier as an 
>effort to protect the blind. Now, it's time to meet George Jetson...
>
>
>
>[Source: Ford via Facebook]
>
>
>
>Sound A link:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOEuCJfsS8k&feature=player_embedded
>
>
>
>Sound B link:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyAmfe2Niq4&feature=player_embedded
>
>
>
>Sound C link:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pDsgADWjmT0
>
>
>
>Sound D link:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=p8XSF3fMv60
>

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