Dont mess with the PWS on your EV.

[gombater]

Practically speaking, wouldn't that solve the issue? We already geofence drones. The R1T would be capable of geofencing and that would alleviate the need for PWS in a situation that clearly doesn't demand it and negates some of the benefit of having an electric vehicle in nature - preserving and enjoying the ambient sounds that otherwise would be droned out by an ICE or a functionally limited PWS (in that environment).

Problem is, it's much harder to change a regulation in effect vs negotiating a draft version. Even if Rivian wanted to do this, and I doubt they would due to cost/limited resources, the regulation would have to change to allow this. Too many special interest groups would oppose.

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[DuckTruck]

I'm sure you could - though I would be curious what the implications if a pedestrian were to walk out and get hit by you.

In Normal, I hear the sentence for such an offense is up to "Soon" in jail, depending on injuries. Sounds somewhat indeterminate. You must be willing to 'tape' the risk. ?

 

[Riviot]

Joggers and Bicyclists. When I am riding my bicycle on a residential street, I pay attention to the sounds of cars approaching from behind, moving over to the right as much as possible.

As a 4/5 days bike commuter on a 45MPH 2-lane rural road, I hope my voice counts! ??‍??‍
I've had plenty of ICE vehicles "sneak up" on me going 45+ MPH. When I do hear them, it isn't engine noise, but the sound of a large object piercing the air at high speeds. This experience has led me to invest in a bar-end mirror, and now I use that bad boy all the time. Best bike investment ever!
All this to say, "engine" noise is more important at low speeds than high.

Oh and after reading this yesterday, I taped over my speaker with black electrical tape. It didn't change squat. You're gonna need to unplug it or put something in there.

I did notice yesterday that speaker plays the "do-do" notification for your key being removed from the car, but does NOT play the locking chirp.

 

[Ladiver]

Driver awareness wouldn't explain a 40% increase in pedestrian incidents with EV over ICE.

Maybe we should look further into this. At least half of the people that I know who drive EVs (mainly Teslas) are horrible drivers. Moving their statistics from ICE to EV is an easy explanation for the increase. While not the whole picture, driver competence is a big part of the problem.

 

[Bobthebuilder352]

What are you even talking about? The Rivian is a 7,000 pound vehicle. If it hits you, even at low speed, you can die. Last I checked two pedestrians bumping into each other just causes an "oh, excuse me".

Of all the laws and regulations to complain about people are choosing one that clearly, and effectively, protects our vulnerable population?

Oh right, I forgot no one is ever hit by loud vehicles.

 

[Bobthebuilder352]

Maybe we should look further into this. At least half of the people that I know who drive EVs (mainly Teslas) are horrible drivers. Moving their statistics from ICE to EV is an easy explanation for the increase. While not the whole picture, driver competence is a big part of the problem.

Lol. Every Tesla owner I know is either very safe and slow or a complete jackass that hits the “gas” from every stoplight and loves to hit the brakes relatively late and hard for “max” regen. It’s like 50/50 with no in-between. I’d also speculate that maybe AP/enhanced cruise control is a factor which is much more prevalent on EV’s.
One older X owners I know essentially drives by warning bells and focuses on that as a warning/distraction over eyes on the road.

 

[Gshenderson]

Hypothetical here just to add some levity to this thread. If one disables the sound emitting safety device on their truck and hits a pedestrian who walks into the road wearing headphones, who’s at fault? ?

Personally, I seldom ever wear headphones because I believe they make me far less situationally aware and a greater danger to myself and others. But the number of people wearing headphones and jamming tunes while jogging, biking, skiing, etc. is astounding. I’m all for protecting people with hearing defects. Unless they are self-imposed.

 

[moosehead]

Every Tesla owner I know is either very safe and slow or a complete jackass that hits the “gas” from every stoplight

The idiots are the worst.

 

[SoCal Rob]

I don't remember hearing the artificial sound at the Agua dulce test drive. I recall such a quiet driving experience. Or am I wrong?

I haven’t gotten to drive an R1 yet so I don‘t know. Maybe those trucks were pre-production and didn’t have a functioning PWS?

 

[Joints4Sale]

The companies that are building off road EVs(including Rivian) are marketing them as a quiet way to enjoy nature. Point in case......... JEEP Magneto 2.0. I'm all for protecting people who need help but you can't legislate common sense.

 

[lostpacket]

Maybe we should look further into this. At least half of the people that I know who drive EVs (mainly Teslas) are horrible drivers. Moving their statistics from ICE to EV is an easy explanation for the increase. While not the whole picture, driver competence is a big part of the problem.

Lol definitely known a few not so great Tesla drivers. That fella named FSD especially.

Fwiw I believe most of the studies predate Tesla, when the Prius was basically the only ev.

 

[svet-am]

I need to look into it more but I would not be surprised at all of the vehicle were able to detect when the PWS is disabled/not-functional and refuse to allow you to go into Drive.

 

[lostpacket]

The companies that are building off road EVs(including Rivian) are marketing them as a quiet way to enjoy nature. Point in case......... JEEP Magneto 2.0. I'm all for protecting people who need help but you can't legislate common sense.

I agree you cant legislate common sense, which is why legislated a rule for a safety device.

 

[lostpacket]

You know one thing that might be possible would be for these devices to adjust their volume output based on the current ambient noise level. That and geofencing could be an interesting/promising compromise while the world transitions to EVs

 

[moosehead]

Imma gonna be going the opposite direction of you sounds of silence nature types.

The only dilemma is selecting from say a Shelby GT500 V8 (likely default daily driver), or for those driving slow in the fast lane, will switch to the Harley V-twin option. If someone is jamming up the OR trail, will dial in the steam train option.

https://www.soundracer.se/?p=513

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