"Fake" artificial engine and interior sounds

[Katsudon]

Came across this article yesterday on electric car sounds and how manufacturers are approaching it:

All about that bass: carmakers seek electric car sounds for post-petrol era

From the Rivian videos it seems the R1T and R1S won't feature any fake artificial / synthetic sounds on the exterior or interior? Should they?

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[CappyJax]

I think they should and be user selectable. You could switch between Jet engine, rocket engine, big gas engine, the road runner, speedy Gonzales, Herbie, and a Schwin bicycle with playing cards in the spokes.

 

[A Hawk]

These aren't sports cars so not having engine sounds won't seem as odd but I agree I think they should give us the option of turning sound if we want - especially the exterior sounds. I'm sure most of us have crossed roads and had a hybrid or EV come up on us without us realizing.

BTW anyone else find it funny that AMG is working with Linkin Park to develop a sound for its electric cars. Next we're going to see companies start advertising for their EVs -- "Sounds developed by [insert famous music artist]"

 

[Alan Burns]

We might as well try the neighborhood ice cream truck bells especially in a quiet neighborhood at 3:00 in the morning. Maybe the clip clop of a horse from a movie sound track.

I would prefer to just leave things alone until we see if tire noise is enough. Fire trucks, ambulances and police cars with sirens hardly attract any attention until they are close by. Back up beepers seem to work well but no one will be happy if roads and streets are filled with a cacophony of those sounds.

 

[Lil'O Annie]

I think they should and be user selectable. You could switch between Jet engine, rocket engine, big gas engine, the road runner, speedy Gonzales, Herbie, and a Schwin bicycle with playing cards in the spokes.

Cappy--you left this sound out.

 

[CappyJax]

Cappy--you left this sound out.

That’s perfect!

 

[Rivian1]

I think they should and be user selectable. You could switch between Jet engine, rocket engine, big gas engine, the road runner, speedy Gonzales, Herbie, and a Schwin bicycle with playing cards in the spokes.

Don't forget Speed Buggy mode...appropriate due to 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds.

 

[Jason's Rivian]

Porsche's approach with the upcoming Porsche Taycan EV is they'll be giving the driver the option of turning the generated sound on or off. The sound when turned on is supposed to be an electric engine sound. It'll be interesting to see what Rivian's approach is, or maybe they won't bother with sounds at all.

Per https://www.caradvice.com.au/732699/porsche-taycan-electric-sedan-sold-out-for-the-first-year/

Porsche says the Taycan will have a unique note — inside and outside the car — but it won’t pretend to sound like a petrol-powered performance car. “I’m not a fan to make an application of a combustion engine for an electric car, that’s not authentic,” said Mr Blume. “We adapted the sound from the electric engine [into the cabin]. The driver can choose to drive with or without it. You have the option to make it louder.”

 

[EyeOnRivian]

OK, foregoing any generated engine/motor sounds, another related topic I read about with EVs is that people don't "hear" the vehicle approaching and will some times walk right into the path of the moving EV. (Unfortunately an ongoing problem with people's head down mesmerized by their smartphones while walking.) So, having a little fun here, how about something like this . An option to turn on/off that when on will auto-detect an object (human) in near proximity *and* getting closer to the vehicle will cause the vehicle to blurt out something like "excuse me, coming thru." It would seem doable given all the detection devices (camera's, lidar, radar, etc.) on EVs these days. Or to eliminate the language issue, trigger an alarm/sound/noise, say, something similar to what gets emitted when a truck backs up.

 

[Lil'O Annie]

OK, foregoing any generated engine/motor sounds, another related topic I read about with EVs is that people don't "hear" the vehicle approaching and will some times walk right into the path of the moving EV. (Unfortunately an ongoing problem with people's head down mesmerized by their smartphones while walking.) So, having a little fun here, how about something like this . An option to turn on/off that when on will auto-detect an object (human) in near proximity *and* getting closer to the vehicle will cause the vehicle to blurt out something like "excuse me, coming thru." It would seem doable given all the detection devices (camera's, lidar, radar, etc.) on EVs these days. Or to eliminate the language issue, trigger an alarm/sound/noise, say, something similar to what gets emitted when a truck backs up.

I like it!! That could be great fun and also create a whole new business of EV warning sounds/songs/voices. Actually, I've read there is already a company working on EV sounds. There's all kinds of possibilities. Would like to be able to customize and make my own sounds, too. Since Rivians will likely be out and about in the back country, animal detection and with optional loud warning noises to get them off the road, AND let you know animals are ahead, would be great, also. Maybe infrared detection for warmblooded animals.

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