Since July 1, 2019, legislation has been in force throughout the European Union that obliges electric and hybrid car manufacturers to install a device called AVAS (acronym for Audible Vehicle Alert System) which also allows these cars to emit a noise while they are circulating. , such as fuel-powered cars. The legislation was introduced given the numerous concerns about the excessive silence of electric cars, an issue that has been discussed for several years due to the potential risks faced by distracted pedestrians who do not hear the noise of the car and the blind.
New regulations will require all new electric vehicles to feature a warning noise to alert pedestrians and cyclists.
? listen to the warning noise below⬇️ pic.twitter.com/EO6JPK0QUg
– BBC Radio 5 Live (@ bbc5live) June 30, 2019
The legislation requires that all new electric car models produced starting from July 1st have the AVAS installed as standard, a system that emits an artificial sound through a speaker – which can be customized by the various manufacturers – which must have a volume that range from a minimum of 56 decibels to a maximum of 75 decibels. Activation of the AVAS will be mandatory up to a speed of 20 km / h and in reverse. Some manufacturers have already installed AVAS in their off-the-shelf electric car models (such as the Jaguar I-PACE and Nissan LEAF) but until now the system could be deactivated at any time. With the entry into force of the new legislation, the sound cannot be deactivated.
Owners of electric and hybrid cars that are already on the road that do not have the AVAS system installed will have until 1 July 2021 to update their car. Furthermore, from 1 September, similar legislation will also come into force in the United States, where the American road safety agency NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has established that the sound produced by the AVAS must be active up to a speed of 28 km / h.
