EV Sound Alert Partnership Moves Forward in Europe

A European consortium is moving forward on plans to equip silent-running electric vehicles with a system that emits a low-level noise when it detects pedestrians and other traffic nearby.

A U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows EVs without sound emitters are twice as likely to have a low-speed accident involving a pedestrian than were conventionally powered vehicles.

Media reports say Peugeot may show a concept car fitted with the so-called Evader system at next month's Frankfurt auto show. Nissan demonstrated a prototype of the technology in its Leaf EV last December.

The Evader system was developed by the 12-member Electric Vehicle Alert for Detection and Emergency Response consortium. The group, which is led by the European Commission, includes Renault, Continental, Siemens and the European Blind Union.

The Evader system uses a windshield-mounted camera to identify pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. Six speakers fitted to the EV then emit a low-level sound five decibels lower than that of conventional gasoline and diesel engines to warn people of its presence.

Last year the E.U. Parliament approved regulations that will require all new EVs to be fitted with sound emitters by 2019. The U.S. already has implemented similar rules for EVs moving at speeds below 18 mph.