Review on Electric Vehicles Exterior Noise Generation and Evaluation

The increasing worldwide adoption of Electric Vehicles promises to deliver a number of positive impacts, not only on the environment, but also on the quality of life of citizens in urban scenarios. However, the absence of exterior sound in Hybrid and Electrical Vehicles, especially at low speeds, may negatively affect pedestrian safety. While regulations mandate the adoption of Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems, they also leave freedom to manufacturers and sound designers to find proper warning sounds, able not only to fulfill safety requirements but also to preserve the brand identity. This paper presents the most relevant initiatives around warning sound design, from the scientific state-of-art to the industrial implementations and R&D projects, taking into account the warning sound assessment methodologies imposed by regulations.