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

[Deborah Kent Stein]

My hunch is that we'll get used to the new sounds in pretty short order. 
Most of the proposed sounds I've heard are recognizable as cars, even though 
some sound a bit George Jetson-ish.


----- 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 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] What should Ford's new Focus EV sound like?, 
Autoblog Green, June 23, 2011


> 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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