Dixxon partnership, & EV whirring

[The Vegan]

I had a few thoughts I wanted to share with Scout and the community.

1. Have a collaboration with Dixxon flannel company! To those that don't know, they make limited ed. flannels/patterns and frequently partner with companies/celebrities/bands etc.. I sent this idea to the Scout Motors Facebook marketing group a while ago, but just thought I'd also post it here too. FYI - Dixxon just came out with a limited edition Indian motorcycles 125 anniversary flannel today.

2. If Scout Motors vehicles are required to make that EV "whirring" noise while driving, can it be kept to a minimum volume? EV cars driving by my house are louder than ICE vehicles! I should not be able to hear an EV whirring by while inside my house, when I can't hear an ICE motor in the same conditions. Maybe it's just certain EV's that are exceptionally loud, but definitely gets a check in the negative column when deciding on a next vehicle. Maybe make a shirt that says "Loud Whirring Saves Lives"

In conclusion, partner with Dixxon Flannel, and no whirring for the win!

 

[RodorW]

Agreed, and in those cases where you almost hit people for whatever reason I would suggest an ADAS system would be more effective than a dumb sound that just ads to noise pollution in cities that most people ignore anyway.

I think we should just replace the pedestrian warning sound with a button that Blair‘s truck horn and I think that’ll get them to move

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

Agreed, and in those cases where you almost hit people for whatever reason I would suggest an ADAS system would be more effective than a dumb sound that just ads to noise pollution in cities that most people ignore anyway.

Ship’s Klaxon!!!

 

[speedrye]

I support Darwin, let's remove the noise makers!

There's something wrong in the world when the boss man's 5.0L V8 in his Lexus is quieter backing up than his wife's Rav4 hybrid. That's not a quiet V8 by any means, but it sounds so much better than the spaceship.

I read the noise requirements some time back, and they're very specific on tonal range and volumes, so automakers don't have a lot of leeway.

 

[strider]

Experience from my EV as someone who has the unfortunate of spending a lot of time in various parking lot most pedestrians don’t care when they hear the sound or they’re just to oblivious to hear it unless it’s the sound of a straight pipe truck. However, there have also been many people that like to walk behind my vehicle when I’m trying to back out of a spot and the only thing that gets them to move, isn’t my reverse lights, but the sound of the pedestrian warning noise but that’s only about 10% of the time most time people don’t care and they will just walk in front of you. Though I can also say that there are times where even when being cautious, you might not see a pedestrian I’ve had way too many people disappear behind my a pillar and just barely avoid my site for almost too long.

I think I have said this before but they should bring back the "pedestrian horn" that GM had on the original Volt. This was pre-pedestrian warning system but GM realized that people will mosey down the middle of a parking lot, not realizing there is a car behind them. So the original Volt had a quiet horn that you could toot to let people know you ere there without blasting the full horn and scaring them. I'm pretty sire they removed that when the PWS was mandated.

Since my pedestrian warning systems keep failing, I'm patient and will just wait for them to wander out of the way. I really don't need to be anywhere that quickly.

Speaking of failing systems, if anyone wants to wander down to NE Oklahoma I'd be happy to show you the railroad tracks near my house. So far I'm 2 for 2 (a Volvo and a Tesla). Within a year I'll see if an Equinox EV falls victim to the same tracks. And for the record, I can promise you that if you run over someone, the fact that whether the PWS was working or not will have zero basis in any lawsuits. You are singularly responsible for anything that you hit, period.

 

[cyure]

I think I have said this before but they should bring back the "pedestrian horn" that GM had on the original Volt. This was pre-pedestrian warning system but GM realized that people will mosey down the middle of a parking lot, not realizing there is a car behind them. So the original Volt had a quiet horn that you could toot to let people know you ere there without blasting the full horn and scaring them. I'm pretty sire they removed that when the PWS was mandated.

Since my pedestrian warning systems keep failing, I'm patient and will just wait for them to wander out of the way. I really don't need to be anywhere that quickly.

Speaking of failing systems, if anyone wants to wander down to NE Oklahoma I'd be happy to show you the railroad tracks near my house. So far I'm 2 for 2 (a Volvo and a Tesla). Within a year I'll see if an Equinox EV falls victim to the same tracks. And for the record, I can promise you that if you run over someone, the fact that whether the PWS was working or not will have zero basis in any lawsuits. You are singularly responsible for anything that you hit, period.

The Grenadier has a “toot” horn. Little red button on the steering wheel that’s a softer horn for pedestrians and bicyclists. I thought that was a great idea.

 

[Logan]

I agree, the onus should be on the driver for not running people over, but also think that having some noise to make people aware of a vehicles location without them having to turn and look at it does help with safety. No, its not going to prevent a kid from running into the street to get a ball, and deaf/hard of hearing people might not hear it as well. But something is better than nothing.

And remember, the speeds that the vehicles make these noises, are pretty low. Its basically "parking lot, and residential neighborhood" speeds. After that its tire/road noise that people are hearing.

25 years ago, I went on a tour thing with my grandparents, and the bus we were in was a rear engined bus. And the busdriver mentioned "be aware, this bus had the engine at the back, so make sure to keep an eye out while we're getting in/out of the bus at the various stops, to make sure you are safe around it". But, after that, he did this thing where he'd creep up on people in the parking lots who were clearly not paying attention/couldn't hear this silent 40ft bus, and then honk the horn (a little "toot toot" style horn, not a crazy train horn ) and startle them. He did it for laughs for us inside, but it did show that the engine noise really was helping make people round vehicles more aware that they were there.

Also I can say definitively that my EV, and PHEV are both much quieter than my Jeep with the 4.0L straight six. And I don't even think that has an exhaust system on it. Its not "muscle car loud", but it... definitely rumbles. Its pretty loud (easily heard inside the house when its idling, even across the house/upstairs). Probably not a fair comparison. Given, it is an older vehicle, so probably not the most useful data point, but at least for the vehicles we have, the combustion vehicle is way louder than the EV.

But the EV's (both Hyundais") do sound like a "choir of angels" as you drive away. And my kids and I make fun of that every chance we get .