Are Hybrid Vehicles TOO Quiet?
While Hybrids can save you a substantial amount of money over the life of the vehicle, they do come with a few drawbacks. They are often small and have a limited range while running on full electric power, but does running almost completely silent present itself as a downside? According to many people it does and Lotus Engineering has designed a system to help reduce the worries associated with running silently.
So far there has been only a single accident that has been blamed on the silent nature of Hybrids. The incident resulted in no injuries, but it was more than enough to get some people thinking. In response to this, s new Toyota Prius has been outfitted with the new "Sound and Safe" system developed by the engineering arm of Lotus Automotive.
The kit uses a waterproof speaker mounted right above the radiator that, when active, will produce a sound similar to a V8 or Flat-6. The sound emitted is reliant on the speed and throttle position. When the 1.5 liter engine is powering the Prius, the speaker is turned off.
Depending on the reaction and success of the prototype, the technology could be expanded to many more of the upcoming Hybrids.