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

[michael townsend]

Deb, what has to be remembered here is that an artificial sound recreated
and boosted through tiny speakers isn't going to sound realistic; as a car
nut I can assure you of that, so whatever sound or sounds are selected have
to capture the moment, not be realistic and therefore, we may have to put up
with a few strange noises in order to drive these points home, if you will.
 


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 Deborah Kent Stein
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 8:08 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



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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