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

Wed Jul 13 00:07:35 UTC 2011

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is taking 
the mandate of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act very seriously.  A 
number of staffers are working full-time to arrive at the sound level and 
range of acceptable sounds that will be required in 2014.  Chirps and tweets 
and bongs are definitely out.

Debbie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "michael townsend" <mrtownsend at optonline.net>
To: "'Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety'" 
<quietcars at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] What should Ford's new Focus EV sound like?, 
Autoblog Green, June 23, 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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