New research showing pedestrians’ concerns over the almost silent approach of electric vehicles is now out from Venson Automotive Solutions.

Road users are keen to maintain the roar of a petrol or diesel engine on UK roads

The study reveals more than a quarter (27%) of pedestrians have recently been taken by surprise by the lack of noise of a plug-in car while they were crossing the road, and almost half (47%) remain concerned about how quiet plug-ins are when in transit.

This is despite the introduction of EU regulations on electric vehicle noise levels, which have required the use of an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) since 2019.

Despite the phasing out of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, road users are keen to maintain the roar of a petrol or diesel engine on UK roads. Currently, when an EV is being driven at low speed or in reverse, a noise automatically starts. These can vary from clearly artificial bells and chimes to those that mimic engine sounds or tyres moving over gravel. Around a quarter (26%) of road users would prefer EVs to have a noise that mimics a traditional ICE engine; the next most popular choice was a continuous low decibel sound, which 21% of road users would choose.

Road users also applied conventional thinking when it comes to the sound they want an EV horn to make, with 65% agreeing that the horn should make the same sound as an ICE vehicle horn. But 23% would prefer an animal or musical instrument sound, even though the horn is used to warn of a road user’s presence or avoid a potential accident.

Venson has warned that the safety of vulnerable road users could be at risk without tighter regulation and greater consistency on the artificial noises a plug-in vehicle makes.

Simon Staton, client management director for Venson Automotive Solutions, said: “It is easy to see how the stealth-like approach of some EVs, coupled with the varying beeps and chimes of these vehicles when driven in reverse, can cause confusion to some of the UKs more vulnerable pedestrians, such as children or those who are hard of hearing.

“Of course, the integration of AVAS into hybrid vehicles back in 2019 was a tremendously positive step, but as our research reveals, 27% of road users have narrowly avoided an incident with an EV so more needs to be done. When people rely on sound to judge the presence, location and speed of vehicles to protect themselves from harm, easily recognised sounds that can be clearly heard are voted the best.”