With electric cars becoming increasingly mainstream fears have been raised regarding the lack of noise from the vehicles and the potential effects on pedestrian safety. However, now Delphi has developed two sound generators – known as sounders – which will enable pedestrians to detect hybrid and electric vehicles.
The first, known as the electronic sounder system, is around three times lighter than a conventional multi-box system and uses 90 per cent less power. It has been designed to reduce design, test and manufacturing costs and provides a frequency range between 500Hz and 10kHz.
For vehicles that require higher sound quality, Delphi has developed the high-fidelity sounder system using a cone speaker activated by a lightweight magnet that can extend base range to 150Hz. It weighs 66 per cent less than a conventional speaker system.
Both generators have been designed to meet minimal sound thresholds to warn pedestrians of the approaching vehicle. Both are robust enough to be mounted under the vehicle’s hood.
The value of the sound generators could be increased by connecting them with other systems through the vehicle’s data bus. The first sound generator is expected to be introduced by a leading manufacturer midway through 2012.
