Electric cars deemed 'too quiet'

IT WAS hailed as a huge boon in our bid to save the planet. Unfortunately it turned out to be a threat to pedestrians. Now Nissan, makers of the first mass production electric car, have fitted it with a speaker so it makes a noise as it approaches.

The engine of the 29,000 Nissan Leaf, which will be launched in the UK next month, runs almost silently. This wasn't seen as a problem until researchers discovered that walkers could be entirely unaware of its impending presence and could step out in front of it.

So now a special speaker has been fitted in the engine compartment that emits a a "low, whooshing hum" that those inside the car cannot hear but those outside can. If it proves successful, buyers might be able to programme in their own noises, raising the prospect of a Nissan that sounds like a Ferrari.

Nissan UK said the device had been installed to give pedestrians a "fighting chance" of hearing the car's approach. Tom Barnard, communications director, said: "Nissan have been carrying out research and have had electric cars running for 20 years now and we know that in an urban environment there is a problem with people not hearing them approach. Drivers have also told us people keep stepping out in front of them. We investigated this and did a lot of research, which involved testing beeps and whirrs that just irritated people. What we decided on sounds like a plane taking off in the distance.

"We've also developed the noise range to be heard by all ages, as a high-pitched squeal wouldn't be heard by older people and would probably make us quite unpopular."

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, said the main danger from electric cars is in car parks, where even the sound of tyres cannot be heard at low speeds. He said in time pedestrians would become familiar with the sound.

He added: "Until we have a lot of these we wouldn't have known if they have an accident problem or not, so it sounds quite sensible that the manufacturers have anticipated this."

Barnard added that, theoretically, any sound could be programmed into the device. "I'm sure it won't be long before people will put whatever sound they want in the speaker, so there'll be people having V8 noises and jeep noises. For now we thought it would be best to go with a nice whoosh."