Feds Postpone Hybrid and EV Warning Noises Until Next Year

Federal regulators have postponed rules to require hybrid and EV carmakers to add audible warnings to their cars to alert nearby pedestrians, bicyclists and visually impaired people, Reuters reported.

The audible warnings would be installed on cars made by Ford, Honda and Toyota and be activated when those cars are traveling slower than 18 mph. According to the report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says hybrid and EV cars are 19-percent more likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash when compared to gasoline cars. The rule could prevent 2,800 crashes with pedestrians.

The proposed rule has been in the works since 2013, and the latest delay — from November to March — is because “additional coordination is necessary.” The proposed sounds are posted on NHTSA’s website, and automakers will have to choose between “pleasant sounding, brainwave, thought-stealing machine” sound or “piercing-wail-that-will-drive-your-dog-batshit-in-the-morning” sound.

Lawmakers in 2010 directed NHTSA to draft regulations for the new rule by January 2014. In July, NHTSA director said those regulations would be complete this month.

According to the report, the new rule could cost automakers up to $23 million to fit their cars with external speakers.

Like anything good, the best answer has obviously come from motorsports. Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima’s Pikes Peak EV was fitted this year with a clear, banshee wail that alerted El Paso County that he was hauling ass up a mountain. If automakers could build their EVs to run like hell up a mountain, I think I’d be willing to drive an electric car that you could hear in Manitou Springs, too.