Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular for their eco-friendliness and silence, but their silent nature is controversial. While the lack of noise has a positive impact on the residential environment, the exhaust note recognizes the vehicle’s presence, expresses its personality, and plays an important role in car culture and safety. A completely silent environment can actually increase the risk of accidents between pedestrians and drivers, and the absence of social background noise can lead to anxiety. While the advancement of electric vehicles is to be welcomed, the balance between safety and noise must be considered.
Currently, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly attractive to consumers as they continue to make advances in environmental friendliness and performance. Early EVs had limitations in terms of range and charging time, but as the technology improves, these drawbacks are gradually being overcome. The barrier of high price is also being lowered, especially thanks to government subsidies and support policies, making them more appealing to the public. Electric vehicles are no longer being chosen simply because they are environmentally friendly, but because they are becoming a viable alternative with high performance and convenience.
One of the many benefits of electric vehicles is that they are virtually silent, which is especially true in environments where residential neighborhoods are adjacent to busy roads, and is a big draw for people who want to be free from noise pollution. The ability to travel quietly without the engine noise of gasoline-powered vehicles can certainly contribute to reducing noise in urban environments, and many people expect to live in a more pleasant environment once electric vehicles become commonplace and replace internal combustion-powered vehicles.
However, the lack of noise needs to be looked at from a different perspective. For example, the exhaust note of a fast-moving sports car gives you a sense of the car’s powerful engine performance, which is an attraction in itself for car enthusiasts. The exhaust note symbolizes the car’s personality, and the exhaust note of a supercar or sports car makes drivers and pedestrians aware of the car’s presence. These noises add to the enjoyment of the car and are part of the car culture. Many car enthusiasts are disappointed by the silent nature of electric vehicles.
Nowhere is this importance of exhaust note more apparent than in auto racing competitions. In F1, the world’s most prestigious racing competition, the sound of a racing car with a powerful exhaust note racing down the track is enough to excite spectators. The sound conveys the speed and power of the car, and it drives the audience into a frenzy. If an electric car is used in a race and an artificial exhaust note is played over the speakers, will spectators feel the experience is authentic? It is doubtful that an artificial sound can replace the value of authenticity, as the appeal of an authentic car comes from a natural sound that is not artificial.
Moreover, the exhaust note does more than just entertain. The noise of a car signals to pedestrians and other drivers that a car is close by. When we’re walking down the street, one of the biggest reasons we can recognize a car coming up behind us is because of the exhaust note. If electric vehicles were to drive down the street in silence, pedestrians would have a harder time seeing what’s going on around them, which could increase the risk of accidents. Not only pedestrians, but also drivers can have a harder time recognizing each other’s presence without noise, increasing the risk of collisions at intersections and side streets. In this sense, exhaust sounds are becoming an essential element of safety.
Socially, a completely silent environment can also be uncomfortable. We are accustomed to the comfort of moderate background noise, such as white noise, in our daily lives. The exhaust note of a car traveling down a major thoroughfare can sometimes be a distraction, but if it were to disappear entirely, the liveliness of the street would go with it. An overly quiet environment can actually create feelings of awkwardness and anxiety. If the age of electric vehicles is upon us and the streets are filled with silence, society will need time to adjust to this change.
Electric vehicles are evolving into a cleaner, more efficient form of transportation and will play an important role in the future, but it’s important to consider the possibility that their silent nature could reduce their appeal and safety factor.
