h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well in the place called "Blighty" we had electric vans that delivered milk called "milk floats" these things had a nice noise of there own, the sound of clanking glass milk bottles, so then it should follow the sound of new electric cars should be of this!

If only

RJR (the living proof)

http://www.milkfloats.org.uk/modern.html

I still opt for the "Ministry of Automotive Noises". Nice name btw.

Na na na, a Ministry will never control the noise cars make; it'll maybe regulate them, but our free market economy will actually *generate* the noises the cars make.

I'd bet that when electric cars become common, they'll be required by law to make a noise, for public safety reasons. Who knows what relative importance hearing and vision make, if people can't hear cars coming there'll be more people being knocked down.

Therefore, electric cars will have to make a noise. As long as it sounds like something that sounds something in (variable) motion, it'll be licensed. Such things would include horses' hooves (nice one SoRB) or previous petrol engines. Given that these sounds will be as 'personal' as a ringtone, and will probably be sold the same way, then you've gotta think what people would really like their cars to sound like.

My guess is something a bit more powerful than the electric cars are: something that has the power of a Jag, say, will sound like a Ferrari; something witht the power of a Micra will sounds like a Focus or something.

Someone who wrote an app relating the fake engine sound to engine power or car speed and so on could make a fortune writing that program, except about 80% of folk will download it for free rather than buying it.

Pedro, there already are things that do that. You put them into your car´s stereo and they make supercar noise. Sound ghastly though.

Is it worth pointing out that the loudest noise in most cars is already the sound of tyres on the road?

It very often is. And many motorbikes have to wear stupid tyres to meet noise regulations.

>Is it worth pointing out that the loudest noise in most cars is already the sound of tyres on the road?<

Yes. And you can be in the lovliest piece of countryside..but if it's within half a mile of a busy main road or especially a motorway, you will always hear that, and it brings me down.

I'll go for the sound of the needle in the groove of a vinyl record..you know at the beginning or end.

I'd especially love it whilst waiting at traffic lights. Da-da da-da da-da da-da......

That 'll be a lot of Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da then. Although it's a pleasant sound, too much is to much.

i like the personalized tone idea. and my first one would be darlington darling by moxy fruvous

The 60s 'Adam West' style Batmobile - complete with rocket fire up when you first pull away.

Alternatively, Chugaboom from the Wacky Races or a WWII Stuka aircraft. The noise from the original Star Trek when they went up to warp 8 would be good too.

It should make no noise at all...

It should have sensors in the front bumper ... and when it is getting close to a pedestrian or a cycle user ... is should ROAR like an enraged lion

And when the sensors get gummed up with road grit,
mud, snow, grease, oil, dead bugs and bat blood
there should be a beep-beep alarm inside the car
warning the occupants to either slow down or pay
more attention.

~jwf~

slow down


a sparky car that goes faster than a fat person running, what a giggle

@ bob and jwf
Well THAT is a good idea.

*slight* deviation...

Out with my family last week, saw one of the new Nissan Leaf electric cars. I explained to the kids that it didn't have a petrol engine like our car, you plugged it in, charged it up, and off it went.

"You can't plug a car in to the electric!" said my 10 year old.
- "Yes you can"
"No you can't!"
- "Yes, you can!"
"But what happens when it's driving and it gets to the end of the wire?"

That´s why they always say electric cars have a limited range.

1. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeer-bong!
2. Wooosh, woooosh, wooosh!
3. &#39;Clear the way, I&#39;m coming through!&#39;
4. The sound of a wet towel flicked on the backside of a naked hitchhikker.