What should an electric car sound like?

For more than a century, the internal combustion engine has powered vehicles through a complex system of moving parts and tiny explosions. The combustion process inevitably produces noise, and that noise has gradually become the background soundscape of our roads, cities, and daily lives. But as hybrid and electric vehicles become more mainstream—and more near-silent electric motors fill the streets—it’s clear that silent cars don’t fit into the ecosystem we’ve built around cars.

The legislation was eventually passed, led by the Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Start request Electric cars can emit artificial engine noises through hidden exterior speakers. These hidden speaker systems, called “acoustic vehicle alert systems” (AVAS), must meet certain sound standards. But they are also a blank slate for sound designers to decide how future cars will sound.